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BEYOND 

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THE FOREST 
BEYOND 

THE WOODLANDS 


BORZOI BOOKS 
FOR CHILDREN 

A Little Boy Lost by W, H. Hudson 

"In its sense of reality and in the unity of childhood with wild 
nature, I know of no book with which to compare it. , . . 

I believe that its appeal will be to children of different ages 
and to every grown person who has any love of beauty or re- 
membrance of childhood. It is a wonderful book to read aloud 
to children." — Annie Carroll Moore in The Bookman. 

"Miss Lathrop’s illustrations for *A Little Boy Lost* and for 
‘The Three Mulla-Mulgars’ have placed her, at a bound, in the 
first rank of American imaginative illustrators.” 

— Chicago Evening Post, 

^ Beautifully illustrated in full color and black and <white by 
Dorothy P. Lathrop. 

The Three Mulla-Mulgars by Walter de la Mare 

"The story concerns the adventures of three monkeys of royal 
blood who have left their hut in the African jungle to seek the 
wonderful kingdom of their Uncle. ... A tale of strange 
creatures and strange landscapes, of adventures and misadven- 
tures in faery forests. One of those rare books that everyone 
will love." — Chicago Evening Post. 

Illustrated in full color and black and *white by Dorothy 
P. Lathrop. 

The ForestBeyond theWoodlands by Mildred Kennedy 

"A fairy story made up of the ideally right and reliable magic 
— the bird-song guiding like a silver thread, through a quest 
that carries us through all manner of portents and crouching 
perils to rare delights beyond far horizons. , , , Made doubly 
delightful by the inclusion of fifteen really extraordinary sil- 
houettes done for the book by Miss Vianna Knowlton." 

— Helen Thomas FoUett. 

The Wonder World We Live In 

by Adam Gowans Whyte 

A book that makes the foundations of real science more 
thrilling, more romantic, and more simply comprehensible 
than the usual pseudo-scientific books for children, and that 
will delight any child whose eyes are opening to the won- 
ders of the world. Profusely illustrated. 

Prince Melody in Music Land by Elizabeth Simpson 

"A very delightful book for children. The author has trans- 
lated much of the dry technique of music lore into a series of 
connected fairy stories. Children will enjoy while learning.” 

— Philadelphia Ledger, 

Illustratiom by Mary Virginia Martin. 


T!ie forest 

BEYOND 

THE WOODLANDS 

A Fairy Tale By 
Mildred ^ime^ 

"WitK silKouettes ^ , 
'V^anna Knowlton'^ 

New\&i*k ALFRED 'A- KNOPF 1921 

V 


Mk 



COPYRIGHT, 1921, BY 
ALFRED A. KNOPF, Inc. 




NOV 25 1921 

§)CI.A630410 ^ 

FEINTED IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMEBIOA 




Florence A. Browne 


THE MOTHER OF 

Ken and Dick 


FOR WHOM THIS TALK WAS WRITTEN 




CONTENTS 

CHAPTER PACE 

I DAVID 13 

II THE BLUE bird’s TRAIL 2§ 

III THE LITTLE DOOR IN THE TREE TRUNK 33 

IV AT THE cobbler’s COTTAGE 4I 

V THE MANSION OF HAPPINESS 57 

VI THE PALACE OF THE BRONZE KINO 7I 

VII IN THE PALACE 8l 

VIII A MESSAGE FROM RUTH 87 

IX THE HUT IN THE FOREST 101 

X THE WINGED HORSE 111 

XI THE DAY BEFORE THE WEDDING 1 18 

XII THE RESCUE I29 

XIII THE BURNING MOUNTAIN I38 

XIV THE GARDEN H5 



LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS 

l-ACINO 

PAGE 

HERE, SAID DAVID, *TAKE THIS BIRCH CUP — ” 22 

DAVID RAN TO THE FOOT OF THE TREE, FASTENED THE 

HEAD OF HIS AX IN THE HOLE 3O 

“follow your nose till you get there.” DAVID 

LOOKED UP AT HIM IN SURPRISE 38 

THE MONTHS PASSED BY AND DAVID AND RUTH WORKED 

AND WORKED FOR THE COBBLER 46 

THE NEXT NIGHT THE MOON SHONE BRIGHTLY. DAVID 

HAD JUST CRAWLED INTO BED 7O 

SHE ROSE TO HER FEET, STRETCHED HER HANDS TOWARD 

THE GREAT BRIGHT SUN AND PRAYED 74 

THE LARGE ROSE-GARDEN ENCLOSED BY THE HIGH BRICK 
WALL WAS THE ONLY SPOT OUTSIDE THE PALACE 
ITSELF, WHERE RUTH WAS PERMITTED TO WANDER 82 

FAR AWAY IN THE DISTANCE HE SAW THE PALACE OF 

THE GREAT BRONZE KING 88 

KNEELING BESIDE A LOW OAK CHEST HE TOOK A RUSTY 

KEY AND FITTED THIS INTO THE WORN KEYHOLE I06 


“you must take me to the bronze king's domain” 116 


List of Illustrations 


yAciNa 

PAGE 

so SHE SANG ONE AFTER ANOTHER THE SONGS THAT SHE 

AND DAVID HAD LOVED 122 

“this way, ruth, this way,” whispered DAVID 128 

THEY TOLD ONE ANOTHER OF ALL THAT HAD TAKEN 

PLACE 138 

“welcome, children,” she said, “welcome to your 

cottage’ ’ 150 


THE FOREST 
BEYOND 

THE WOODLANDS 




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CHAPTER I 


DAVID 

DAVID was the son of an honest wood- 
cutter. He lived with his father in a little 
cottage on the border of the woodlands. 
Away, away as far as the eye could see 
stretched great tree-covered hills and moun- 
tains. This vast area was called, by the peo- 
ple of the country, the Dark Forest. 

Some feared the mysteries of this un- 
known and unexplored region, for there were 
many stories and superstitions concerning 
giants, gnomes, and elves who dwelt within 
its shaded wilderness. But David, ever 
since he could remember, had always had 
a friendly feeling for the rough, hard bark 

[13] 


The Forest Beyond the Woodlands 


of a pine or oak tree; and the fringed soft- 
ness of the paper birch had been a delight 
to him ever since the day he first noticed its 
ragged beauty — a late summer afternoon on 
which, as he returned to his father’s cottage, 
the setting sun touched the whiteness of the 
tree-trunk beneath the cool green of its shin- 
ing leaves. 

‘'Some day I shall go far into the Forest,” 
he would say to himself. “Who knows 
what treasures I may find?” 

David grew fast and was strong, for his 
life in the woodlands was one to make any 
boy well and happy. He learned his fa- 
ther’s trade, and in a short time, although he 
was not nearly full grown, he could wield 
an axe as well as many a grown man; in 
fact, he could put some men to shame, for his 
skill was far greater than that of the average 
boy of his age. 


[14] 


David 


One day, while walking along a narrow 
path used by the wood-cutters, he met an 
old, old woman. Her dress was brown and 
made of a coarse homespun. A large bas- 
ket strapped to her back was filled with 
pieces of firewood which she had been 
gathering. When she saw David she called 
to him. And as he approached her he no- 
ticed how beautiful she was; for, although 
her clothes were ragged, that mattered little 
— her face seemed more kind and beautiful 
than any he had ever seen. Her hair — one 
lock had fallen from beneath the brown cap 
that she wore — was white as driven snow. 
Her eyes were the soft colour of oak leaves in 
winter, and so filled with gentleness that 
David could only stand and look at her. 

‘'Can you tell me,’’ she asked in a voice 
that sounded like a breath of wind stirring 
through the pine needles, “can you tell me 

[15] 


The Forest Beyond the Woodlands 

where I can find a bit of water? I have been 
all day in the woods and have found no 
spring or brook ; and I am thirsty, so thirsty ! 
for a drink of pure, cool mountain water.” 

‘‘Yes!” cried David. “There is a beauti- 
ful spring not far from here. I will get 
some of the water for you. Rest here in the 
shade till I return : it will take me but a few 
moments.” 

As he spoke he lifted her basket, that she 
might the more easily slip her arms through 
the leathern straps that served to hold it in 
place upon her back. She swung her clumsy 
burden to the ground and thanked him; and 
as soon as he saw her comfortably seated on 
a bed of moss beneath a sheltering tree, he 
hastened on his way towards the spring. 

As he walked along he took out his hunt- 
ing knife. For first he must find a birch 
tree: he wanted some of its white bark to 
[i6] 


David 


make a cup in which to carry the water. 
Soon he came to a beautiful great tree. Cut- 
ting a clean wide strip of bark, he shaped it 
into a bowl-like receptacle. Next he pinned 
the edges together with twigs, so whittled 
to a point that they would pierce the bark 
and hold it in place. Then, hastening to 
the spring, he filled the birchen cup to over- 
flowing with the clear, cool crystal water. 
In a few moments he stood before the old 
woman again and handed her the dripping 
cup. She took it, drank deeply, and was 
refreshed. 

David gazed upon her. There was some- 
thing about her that he could not explain; 
nor could he explain to himself his strange 
longing to talk to her. She looked up at 
him and smiled; then she motioned to him 
to sit down on the moss beside her. David 
did so. 


[17] 


The Forest Beyond the Woodlands 

‘‘Do you live in these woods?’’ he asked 
timidly. “I do not remember ever having 
seen you before.” 

“No,” answered the old woman. “My 
house is a long, long way from here — yet 
not so very far away, either, if only one is 
wise enough to follow the trail and not seek 
any short cuts.” 

“Does the trail we are on lead to your 
home?” asked David, pointing to the wood- 
path that stretched away before them, seem- 
ing to lose itself far in the distance. 

“Yes and no,” answered the old woman. 
“It leads you there if you know how to fol- 
low it — but there are many turnings, and 
some of them will lead you right and some 
of them will lead you wrong. It is not al- 
ways easy to know which one to take, and 
if you choose the wrong one it will lead you 
far astray.” 


David 


'‘Dear me!” said David, "it is too bad the 
way is not more clearly marked.” 

"It never is,” said the old woman, "and it 
never can be, for each year the new leaves 
grow up to cover the old trail, and each year 
a new trail has to be found. In fact, each 
one has to make his own trail, even when he 
seems to be following another’s and de- 
ceives himself into thinking that he is doing 
so. It is the law of the Forest, for any trail 
other than the one we make ourselves may 
lead us where we do not desire to go, and all 
at once we find ourselves deep in the woods, 
the path lost and we ourselves lost. No: 
we have to know where we are going and 
why we are going there. Then, when we 
know thus much for sure, there is always 
some sign to follow that will prevent us from 
losing the way. So you see, although I may 
start out on this path, that does not mean 

[19] 


The Forest Beyond the Woodlands 

I shall follow it all the way ; it depends up- 
on the way the bird flies.” 

“What bird?” asked David. 

“The Blue Bird,” answered the old Wo- 
man. 

“There are no blue birds in these wood- 
lands,” said David. “I have lived here all 
my life and have never seen one. There 
are yellow birds and red birds, brown birds 
and green birds, white birds and black birds ; 
but I have never seen a blue bird — I did 
not know there was one of that colour.” 

“Well,” said the old Woman, “perhaps 
some day you will see a Blue Bird. When 
you do — let me give you just this word of 
advice — follow it, no matter where you are 
walking, no matter how smooth and beauti- 
ful your path may be, no matter through 
what regions the Bird may lead you. Fol- 
[ 20 ] 


David 


low it, follow it, little boy, for it will guide 
you there/’ 

“Where?” asked David. 

“To the Tree,” answered the old Woman. 

“What tree?” asked David. 

“To the Tree in the midst of the Garden.” 

“What Garden?” 

“The Garden in the depths of the Forest.” 

“What Forest?” 

“The Forest beyond the Woodlands.” 

“Is your home there?” asked David. 

“Not a very great way from it,” said the 
old Woman. “You will see a Blue Bird 
some day, little boy; I am sure of that. I 
am glad that I met you. Thank you for 
bringing me the cool, refreshing water. 
Now I must go on my way, since I have told 
you about the Blue Bird. Remember, Da- 
vid: seek for it and follow it. You will 
[ 21 ] 


The Forest Beyond the Woodlands 

know what it really means only when you 
have reached the end of the trail. — Help me 
lift the basket to my back again. — Thank 
you. — Now I must be off.” 

‘"Here,” said David, ‘'take this birch cup : 
you may grow thirsty again before you reach 
home, and if you come to a brook or spring, 
you will be glad to have this with you.” 

“Thank you, boy. — I am sure you will see 
the Blue Bird some day, for you have the 
seeing light in your eye. But don’t forget 
to look for it!” 

She turned and walked slowly down the 
wooded path. 

David returned to his father’s home. For 
many, many days the memory of the old 
woman remained with him. Indeed, he 
never really forgot her, though a very long 
time passed and strange things happened, 
[ 22 ] 



•‘HERE," SAID DAVID, "TAKE THIS 
BIRCH CUP—" 



David 


before he saw her again, that sometimes 
made his memory grow dim. 

One day — it must have been several 
months after this meeting in the woods — 
David had been felling trees and gathering 
faggots of wood; for this was his daily task. 
Suddenly a bird’s clear, glad song broke up- 
on the calm of the noontime air. It was un- 
usual to hear any bird’s song at that hour; 
but to this fact David gave no thought, for 
the clear, rich sweetness of the notes held 
him spellbound. He paused, resting his 
axe upon the ground, his head thrown back, 
listening. He closed his eyes, for the 
beauty of the music was such that he desired 
to think only of it and to shut out all other 
thoughts from his mind. 

A deep silence fell upon the woodlands. 
Then, suddenly, but as gently as a breeze 
stirring the petals of a rose, the song came 

[23] 


The Forest Beyond the Woodlands 
again — clear, sweet notes that thrilled 
through David’s heart. All at once, as the 
music faded again, a bird darted from the 
topmost branch of a neighbouring birch tree. 
The sunlight played upon its wings and 
breast, and the heavenly beauty of the little 
creature dazzled David’s eyes, as he caught 
a glimpse of it before it was lost in the deep 
shadows of the pine-clad hillside. But in 
that fleeting moment, he saw the colour of 
the bird. 

It was blue — the deep celestial blue of the 
cloudless sky. 


[24] 


CHAPTER II 


THE BLUE bird’s TRAIL 

IN an instant there appeared to David, 
as if in a vision, the moss-covered seat and 
the beautiful little old woman of so many 
months ago. Again he seemed to hear the 
words, “When you see the Bird, little boy, 
follow it.” 

Quick as thought David said to himself, 
“That is the Blue Bird — I will follow it!” 

He stooped, picked up his woodsman’s axe 
and the sharp hunting knife in its leathern 
case, strapped the belt around his waist, 
swung the axe over his shoulder, and started 
off in the direction in which the bird had 
flown. He ran to the dark cedar grove to- 
ward which the Blue Bird had disappeared. 

[25] 


The Forest Beyond the Woodlands 

There he hurried from tree to tree, seeking, 
in the thick foliage, the brightly iridescent 
gleam of the beautiful little creature’s feath- 
ers. But no sign of it could David find. 
After searching and searching, he sat down 
quite discouraged. 

Suddenly he heard again the clear liquid 
notes of the song. Springing to his feet, he 
looked in the direction of the bird’s music. 
And, sure enough, there was the exquisite 
creature, resting on a twig just above his 
head. 

This time he had a fine chance to study it 
carefully, to note the markings on its wings, 
head, and breast; and after this he never 
forgot how the Blue Bird looked — no, he re- 
membered every detail through all the long 
years to come. 

Its back and wings were of the colour that 
we sometimes see reflected in the surface of 
[26] 


The Blue Bird’s Trail 


the ocean or of a lake or river — the wonder- 
ful deep blue of a serene sky. Its breast 
was like the shade of the sky on a soft sum- 
mer day when great white clouds are floating 
about and a faint haze rests over all the 
earth. Its head was of the same rich, deep 
tone as the wings and back, and its throat 
was of that softer blue of the breast. When 
the Bird flew, it seemed as if a line of gold 
encircled it, for the wings and tail were 
tipped and outlined with a golden yellow 
band. When one saw it darting through the 
sunlight, one could not but think of a bit of 
the sky itself, outlined by a golden sunbeam. 
Its song was like the music of a rushing 
mountain brook in early springtime. Hav- 
ing once seen and heard this little songster, 
David had no other desire than to follow 
it wherever its flight might lead. 

The Bird flew and David followed. 

[27] 


The Forest Beyond the Woodlands 

It took no long flights, but went from tree to 
tree. It was as if it understood that David 
wished to follow, for always, before flying 
further, it waited till the boy had come to 
the foot of the tree on which it rested. Such 
a journey as he made ! for in a short time the 
Bird had left the woodland trail and was fly- 
ing cross-country, where there was no path 
to make David’s progress less difficult. 
Soon he was climbing a steep mountainside ; 
then he descended a deep valley over steep 
and slippery cliffs; once he became so en- 
tangled in briers that he was almost on the 
point of crying. But he pushed bravely on ; 
and in a little while he stood free from the 
vexing briers, in an open meadow by the 
edge of a sparkling lake upon the surface 
of which bloomed white water lilies. Be- 
hind him rose the mountain over which he 
had journeyed and the steep, high ridges 
[28] 


The Blue Bird’s Trail 


down which he had slipped and fallen ; their 
sheer damp walls shone now, as the sunlight 
played upon them. It was no easy path that 
he had walked, and as he looked back upon it 
he half wondered how he had been able to ac- 
complish it all in safety. 

Now his way was very different. He 
found himself on a well-marked trail, follow- 
ing the edge of the lake through a beautiful 
pine forest. The trees had scattered their 
brown leaves upon the ground, and it was 
very soft under his sore and tired feet. The 
Bird flew before him, leading him on step by 
step till at last he came out of the pine forest 
at the head of the lake. He paused for a 
moment to look across the smooth surface of 
the water that stretched away before him. 
There, beyond its furthest boundary, rose 
the mountain ; and beyond that, he knew, lay 
his home. 


[29] 


The Forest Beyond the Woodlands 
Suddenly the Bird sang. David listened. 
Again there filled his heart that same mys- 
terious desire to follow wherever the Bird 
might lead him. Nothing else in the world 
seemed to him to matter half so much. The 
Bird flew on. Now they were in a region of 
white birch trees and low-growing bushes, 
and the ground all about was covered with a 
carpet of tiny purple flowers with bright yel- 
low centres. 

In the distance David saw a large tree. 
It was greater than any other tree which grew 
thereabout, and its broad-spreading branches 
cast a cool shade. Its huge trunk, roughened 
and scarred by time, looked as old as the 
mountain itself. The Bird flew toward it, 
David still following; and all at once it 
darted into a hole in the tree-trunk, more 
than a tall man’s height from the ground, and 
disappeared from sight. David ran to the 

[30] 


DAVID RAN TO THE FOOT OF THE 
TREE. FASTENED THE HEAD^OF HIS 
AX IN THE HOLE 



The Blue Bird’s Trail 


foot of the tree and fastened the head of his 
axe in the hole, which he could just reach by 
standing on tiptoe. Then, using the handle 
of his axe to help him, he pulled himself up 
till he was able to look in. 

Such a sight as met his eyes ! Instead of 
being dark and black, as were most holes of 
its kind into which David had ever looked, 
this opening seemed filled with light. It 
gave him the same feeling of wonder that 
comes over one when first one looks at the 
moon through a telescope. He saw a blaze 
of golden light; and within the light lay a 
world that seemed to him like Fairyland it- 
self. He gazed and gazed, clinging to the 
axe handle, digging his toes into the rough 
bark, lest he fall to the ground and so see no 
more. 

At last, unable to hold on any longer, he 
was obliged to let go and drop to the ground. 

[31] 


The Forest Beyond the Woodlands 
Somehow his axe became dislodged from the 
hole, and try as he might, he could not fasten 
it in again. He sat down at the foot of the 
tree, for he was very tired; and in a few 
moments he had fallen fast asleep. 


[32] 


CHAPTER III 


THE LITTLE DOOR IN THE 
TREE TRUNK 

HE had no idea how long he had slept or 
what awakened him; but when he finally 
opened his eyes, the sun was low in the 
western sky. His first thought was of the 
Blue Bird: what had happened to it"? 
Had it flown away and left David there? 
Had he really lost the Bird after all this long 
adventure of following it faithfully? Per- 
haps it was waiting for him somewhere near; 
perhaps if he listened he should hear the song 
again. He waited. The sun sank lower 
and lower. But no bird’s song came to his 
listening ear. At last the sun almost 
touched the horizon. 

[33] 


The Forest Beyond the Woodlands 

“I must look for the Bird!” cried David. 
‘Terhaps it is waiting for me to find it.” 
He jumped up and searched all about in the 
branches of the great tree, but no trace could 
he find of his little winged guide. 

Suddenly he noticed what he had never 
seen before: the bark on one side of the 
tree was rolled back, baring the smooth wood 
underneath. However this had happened, 
it must have happened a long, long time ago, 
for the surface was weathered and stained 
the colour of the rough bark itself. In the 
middle of this smooth gray surface he 
noticed a curious little knob, not unlike the 
handle on a door. Looking more closely, he 
then discovered a tiny crack running around 
the smooth portion of the wood, about two 
inches from the edge of the bark. To his 
astonishment, he discovered that this was a 
little door, just large enough for him to crawl 


The Little Door in the Tree Trunk 


through. He opened it, got down on his 
hands and knees, and crawled in. The door 
closed behind him with a sharp click-clack, 
and he found himself standing in a flood of 
light and at the edge of the same country up- 
on which he had gazed a few moments before, 
when he had peered into the hole through 
which the Blue Bird had flown. 

He looked about him and rubbed his eyes, 
for he could not believe that he was really 
there. The first thing that he noticed was 
that the sun, instead of being in the western 
sky as it had been on the other side of the 
tree, appeared in the east, so that it was 
now morning in this land, instead of evening. 
He gazed about him. Everything was 
marvellously bright and fresh and beautiful. 
Then he noticed how clearly he could see. 
All things were more distinct, more clearly 
outlined, than he had ever known them to be 

[35] 


The Forest Beyond the Woodlands 

1 

before. ‘‘Where am IT’ he thought to him- 
self. 

Then a voice within him seemed to ask: 
“Why did you come through the door? Let 
us go back.” 

“Go back!” cried David. “Well, I guess 
not ! This is the most beautiful place I have 
ever seen : Fm going on.” 

“No!” said the Voice. “Come back; I 
want to go back.” 

“Why do you want to go back?” asked 
David. 

“Because Fm afraid,” answered the Voice. 
“Afraid! afraid of what?” said David. 

“I do not know of what,” answered the 
Voice. “Fm just afraid — afraid of every- 
thing here. The light, for instance — I’m 
afraid of that. It is too bright, and it hurts.” 

David knew that this Voice which he had 
heard was nothing but the voice of the 

[36], 


The Little Door in the Tree Trunk 


coward within himself, although he talked 
aloud to it just as if it were a real person. 

'‘Well,” said David, "walk behind me, 
then; I will shield you from the light as 
much as I can. But, for my part, that is the 
very thing that I most love. Only think 
how the Blue Bird will look in this light, 
when we see him again ! It is worth staying 
here just for that alone.” 

Some one must have heard the sound of 
his voice, for when he looked up he saw a 
young man approaching. 

"How did you get in?” asked the stranger. 

"Through the little door in the Tree,” an- 
swered David. 

"How did you find the door?” 

"I was seeking for the Blue Bird that I 
have followed a long, long way, and he flew 
into a hole in the tree, and I lost him. After 
I had awakened from a sleep — for I was very 

[37] 


The Forest Beyond the Woodlands 

tired and so fell fast asleep — I tried to find 
the Bird again, and in my searching I found 
the little door.’’ 

‘"Oh!” said the stranger, ''you followed 
the Blue Bird here, did you? Then you are 
welcome ; you may stay here as long as you 
wish.” 

"That is very nice,” said David. "But 
do you mind telling me where I am?” 

"No,” said the stranger, smiling. "You 
are on the edge of the Forest.” 

"What Forest?” asked David. 

"The Forest beyond the Woodlands,” an- 
swered the stranger. 

"Oh!” said David. "Thank you. I 
have heard of that Forest before. There is 
a beautiful Garden in it, is there not? I 
think I should like to find the Garden : can 
you tell me how to get to it?” 

[38] 


FOLLOW YOUR NOSE TILL YOU GET 
THERE.” DAVID LOOKED UP AT 
HIM IN SURPRISE 





The Little Door in the Tree Trunk 


“There is but one way,” said the stranger. 
“Follow your nose till you get there.” 

David looked up at him in surprise, for he 
could not quite tell whether the stranger 
were making fun of him or not. 

“I mean it!” said the young man earnestly. 
“The fragrance from the Garden is so 
wonderfully sweet that it fills all the air 
round about. If you take a deep breath 
now, you will notice what I mean.” He 
sniffed at the air as he spoke. David did 
the same; and as he did so he noticed a 
quality of sweetness that he had never imag- 
ined could be in any atmosphere save where 
hosts of flowers were shedding their gentle 
fragrance. 

“I do see what you mean,” said David. 

“Good!” cried the stranger. “I thought 
you would understand me. It truly is the 

[39] 


The Forest Beyond the Woodlands 

only way to find the Garden: just to follow 
your nose till you get there. It sounds 
queer, doesn’t it? But there is lots of sense 
in that advice, and it is good to follow. I 
am sure you will get there. Good luck to 
you. I must go on my way now.” 


[40] 


CHAPTER IV 


AT THE cobbler’s 
COTTAGE 

'‘I DON’T like it here!” wailed the voice 
of the coward within him. ‘‘There are too 
many things that I don’t understand. I’d 
like to run away from it all.” 

“My Grandmother used to tell me never 
to run away from what I can’t understand,” 
said David. “Try to understand it — face 
it, anyway — and if you can’t overcome it, go 
round it. But always keep your face to- 
ward it, because if you run from it, it may 
run after you, and then there is no telling 
what may happen. I’m going to face every- 
thing in this land! I feel so strong and so 
happy that you can’t make me afraid — no, 

[41] 


The Forest Beyond the Woodlands 
not even you, you Doubting Voice — for Fm 
off to find the Garden, and I want you just 
to keep still/’ 

He had walked only a little way when he 
came to a small cottage. An elderly man 
was seated on the step, mending a pair of 
shoes. He called to David as the boy ap- 
proached. 

‘‘What is your name?” asked the man. 

“David,” the boy answered. 

“Well, well, David,” said the Cobbler, 
“you are just the little boy I have been look- 
ing for. I want you to come into my cottage, 
and I will show you something.” 

Now, the Cobbler was really a witch, and 
all he wanted to do was to get David into 
his cottage. Once he had the lad within its 
doors, he would cast a spell over him that 
would prevent him from wishing to leave. 
Then the old Cobbler could do with him as 

[42] 


At the Cobbler’s Cottage 
he pleased. But David knew nothing of all 
this. He entered the cottage ; and as he en- 
tered, the witch’s spell began to take effect. 
He forgot the Garden for which he was seek- 
ing; he forgot the old woman to whom he had 
given the cup, and what she had told him; 
and, saddest of all, he forgot the Blue Bird. 
This meant that he could neither see nor hear 
it again till he thought of it himself and 
sought it of his own free will. 

On the table was a tempting supper of 
cereal and milk, and a large slice of mocha 
pie stood enticingly before him. The Cob- 
bler motioned to him to be seated and told 
him that the supper was spread there for him. 
David was really very hungry, and he sat 
down and ate a good meal. 

Just as he finished the last mouthful of 
the pie, a little girl entered the room. 
David, looking at her, thought that he had 

[43] 


The Forest Beyond the Woodlands 

never in his life seen so beautiful a child. 
She was about eight years of age. Her hair 
was golden brown, fine as spun gold, and she 
wore it pushed back from, her face and held 
in place by a narrow shell band. Her fore- 
head was high and well rounded. And her 
eyes were so kind and beautiful that David 
just stood and looked into them, as she in 
turn was looking into his. It seemed to 
them both as if they had known one another 
long, long ago; no, it was as if they had 
always known one another — as if their 
meeting now were the most natural thing in 
the world. 

The little girl held out her hand to David. 

‘What is yout name?’ he asked her as he 
took it. 

“Ruth,” said the child. “And yours?’ 

“David,” he answered. 

[44] 


At the Cobbler’s Cottage 

They became friends at once and for ever 
and ever and ever. 

The months passed by, and David and 
Ruth worked and worked for the Cobbler — 
for both he and his wife knew how to keep 
the children busy. But as time went on, the 
two children grew older and wiser, till at 
last they grew so wise that they saw 
right through the old Cobbler and his 
wife. They knew that the pair pre- 
tended a great deal that was not true, simply 
in order to keep the children in ignorance so 
that they would fear their elders. For there 
is nothing that keeps one so filled with fear 
as ignorance. Many persons who want 
power just for themselves alone know this, 
and therefore try to keep others bound in the 
heavy chains of ignorance. 

Many months passed, then. Yet to Ruth 

[45] 


The Forest Beyond the Woodlands 

and David they seemed but weeks; for the 
two were held under a certain spell which 
kept them always in the same state of blind- 
ness to past and future. Therefore time, 
as we know it, had hardly any existence for 
them; for, in the land where they now dwelt, 
this was the Law. 

So the children grew and grew. And as 
they grew physically, they also grew men- 
tally. Soon they were approaching the very 
borderland of womanhood and manhood. 
The old Cobbler and his wife were really 
kind enough to them; the only thing that 
one could find fault with was their extreme 
selfishness — for selfish they certainly were. 
Their selfishness showed in their wish that 
David and Ruth should never hear or know 
anything that might make the boy and girl 
restless or desire something other than what 
the old couple sav/ fit to give them; for they 

[46] 


THE MONTHS PASSED BY AND DAVID 
AND RUTH WORKED AND WORKED 
FOR THE COBBLER 



i 


At the Cobbler’s Cottage 
wanted the children to remain with them al- 
ways, and in their old age to care for them 
and make them comfortable. But this state 
of things was not to last for ever. 

David and Ruth both had their daily tasks 
and duties to perform. They were kept 
busy most of the time, and for that reason 
were sound and strong in body. In their 
leisure hours they would play and sing to- 
gether. As Ruth grew older, David found 
that she had a sweet, clear voice. Together 
the two would sing songs of their own mak- 
ing, many of them very beautiful. 

One day they wandered through the 
meadow hand in hand, singing, laughing, 
and playing, for they were both very happy. 
Presently they came to a clear brook-side. 
Growing on either bank, hidden in the soft 
grass, they found the tiny blue flowers called 
forget-me-nots. They gathered a quantity 

[47] 


The Forest Beyond the Woodlands 
of these ; then, seeking a cool spot on a dry 
knoll beneath the shade of a pine tree, they 
wove the flowers into chains, making a fairy- 
like crown with which David decked Ruth. 
The sunlight danced about them as the 
shadows of the pine branches waved to and 
fro. Ruth’s soft hair fell about her face in 
a shower of golden beauty, her cheeks were 
flushed with the joy and zest of youth, and 
her eyes were soft and as deep as the cloud- 
less sky at noonday. As David gazed upon 
her it seemed to him that he had never seen 
anything so filled with beauty and joy in all 
his life. 

‘‘Ruth!” he cried, '‘how beautiful you are! 
You remind me of something — something 
that I have half forgotten — something of 
long, long ago.” 

"What is it?” asked the girl. 

"I do not know,” answered David. "But 

[48] 


At the Cobbler’s Cottage 
you are so beautiful, you fill my heart with 
longing — a longing to do and to be!' 

‘‘What do you mean*?” asked Ruth. “I 
cannot understand you.” 

“I do not know how to tell you,” said the 
boy, laughing, “but — you are so beautiful, 
Ruth, I would like to do something to prove 
to you, yourself, how beautiful you are! I 
am some day going to prove it to you, Ruth ; 
for you truly seem to grow more beautiful 
every day.” 

A tiny olive-green bird hopped about from 
twig to twig near them. The two watched 
it in silence. 

“Yes, Ruth, I will prove it to you some 
day. Something has stirred in my heart 
that has never wakened before. It is like a 
great, deep longing — not for anything that 
I can really put into words, but — it seems as 
if sometime, somewhere, I must have seen 

[49] 


The Forest Beyond the Woodlands 
something, and my longing is to see and to 
find it again, whatever it was, so that I may 
show it to you.’’ 

The little olive-green bird chirped upon 
the pine twig. There was one note in his 
song that seemed to stir David’s memory. 

‘‘Listen, Ruth!” he cried; “catch that 
bird’s note. Listen!” 

They both waited, and the bird sang again. 

David’s eyes shone. “Oh, Ruth,” he 
cried, “thei]e is one note in that song that 
seems almost divine !” Ruth sang the bird’s 
song, in a voice sweet and clear, but very 
soft. 

“Good!” cried David. “Now hold that 
note.” 

Ruth held the note that had especially 
caught the boy’s ear. David looked at her 
as she sang. Then, all at once, a wave of 
memory swept over him. 

[50] 


At the Cobbler’s Cottage 

‘1 have it, Ruth! It is the note in the 
Blue Bird’s song. Oh, how could I forget it 
all this time*?” 

Then, as if in answer to his cry, far up in 
the topmost branches of the pine tree came 
the song of the Blue Bird, clear, sweet, un- 
mistakable. David sprang to his feet. 

''My Bird! My beautiful Bird!” he 
cried, "where are you?” He sought eagerly 
among the branches above him. The song 
came almost uninterruptedly, and David 
followed each note. At last his eye caught 
the sunlight on the iridescent wings; he fell 
on his knees, eager face upturned to the tiny 
woodland creature. 

Yes, it was the Blue Bird, the same 
wondrous and exquisite being that he had 
known and followed so faithfully, and then 
forgotten. A vision drifted before his eyes 
. . . the little cottage in which he had been 

[51] 


The Forest Beyond the Woodlands 

born . . . the woodlands . . . the beauti- 
ful little old lady to whom he had brought 
the water, and then . . . the Blue Bird. 
Yes, there it was again. He lifted his 
hands and stretched them upwards, up to- 
ward the clear blue sky and the great sun 
above. 

must follow the Bird!” he cried. 
'‘Now I know and understand the longing 
in my heart.” 

He rose from his knees and returned to 
Ruth. He found her sitting upon the 
ground, the chain of forget-me-nots looped 
round her, the crown which they had made 
still lending its beauty to her golden hair. 
Her head rested against the rough bark of 
the pine tree. Her hands lay folded in her 
lap; her eyes were closed, and tears had left 
their trail unheeded upon her cheeks. 

[52] 


At the Cobbler’s Cottage 

‘‘Ruth!” he whispered, “you have been 
weeping.” 

She opened her eyes at the sound of his 
voice. The lashes, he saw, were still heavy 
with tears. 

“Yes,” she answered simply. “The song 
is so beautiful — ! I never knew before that 
one could weep because a thing is beautiful, 
but the tears seem to come from deep down 
— deeper down than any tears that I have 
ever known. I have no wish to sob as one 
does in sorrow, but I could not help weeping. 
It is the strangest experience I have ever 
had.” 

“Come,” said David, taking her hand. 
“I want to show you the Blue Bird.” 

Together they sought the Bird. When 
they had found it they gazed and gazed. 
David told her of the old woman, of her 

[53] 


The Forest Beyond the Woodlands 
beauty and sweetness, of the long, long trail 
that he had followed before reaching the 
Cobbler’s Cottage. 

She listened to his story. '‘Yes, David,” 
she said — and she tried not to let a shadow 
of sadness enter her voice — "you must fol- 
low the Blue Bird. I will help you in any 
way I can.” 

"Stay here, then, Ruth, just for a moment, 
while I run to the cottage and get my axe and 
hunting knife. Watch the Bird till my re- 
turn, so that I may not lose it again ; I will 
come back in a minute.” And David started 
off in the direction of the cottage. 

"How I should love to go with him,” 
thought Ruth, "to aid and cheer him! But 
I must say nothing about it unless he asks 
me, for I might only be in his way.” 

In a few minutes David returned, his 
hunting knife strapped about his waist and 

[54] 


At the Cobbler’s Cottage 

his axe swung over his shoulder. “Ruth,” 
he said, “I will follow the Blue Bird; and 
when I get to the end of the trail, I will come 
back again for you. I would take you with 
me now, but I fear the way will be too rough 
and hard for you. It will be better for me 
to return for you, and that I will surely do.” 

Ruth longed to accompany him, and 
David longed to have her; but because each 
wished to consider the other and to be unself- 
ish in regard to that which they both most 
desired, they remained apart — as very often 
happens in other lives, too. 

A flash of brilliant colour streaked the 
woods: the Blue Bird had flown. David 
waved his hand, called “Goodbye !” and was 
off once more upon the unknown trail. 

Ruth watched him cross the meadow and 
enter the woods on the further side. Just 
at this point he turned to wave once more to 

[55] 


The Forest Beyond the Woodlands 
her; and as he did so he took the spray of 
forget-me-nots that she had tucked into his 
cap and put it into the little pocket in the 
side of the leathern case that held his hunt- 
ing knife. 

Ruth returned to the cottage alone. As 
the day drew to a close and David did not 
return, the old Cobbler and his wife asked 
her where he was. 

“I do not know,” answered Ruth simply. 
“He followed the Blue Bird, and I saw him 
disappear in the woods. He did not come 
back to me after that.” 

“Followed the Blue Bird!” cried the old 
couple in one voice. “We never dreamed 
that he could see thatT 


CHAPTER V 


THE MANSION OF HAPPI- 
NESS 

DAVID had not gone far on his way when 
the Voice spoke to him again. He had 
quite forgotten it during the time he worked 
at the Cobbler’s cottage, for the old couple 
had kept him so busy that he had had no time 
to think of anything but his work. 

‘‘What is up now"?” asked the Voice. 
'‘Where are we going?” 

“There^"’ answered David, "after the Blue 
Bird. Did I not tell you the colour on its 
wings would be more beautiful in this light 
than ever before? Is it not so? Were they 
ever more brilliant or more iridescent?” 

With David’s renewed ability to see the 

[57] 


The Forest Beyond the Woodlands 


Blue Bird, all the memory of the past re- 
turned to him so clearly that it seemed but 
yesterday that he had entered the little door 
in the tree trunk. 

''Why leave the cobbler and his wife and 
Ruth?” asked the Voice. "I liked it there 
and found myself very comfortable and well 
cared for, even if they did work us rather 
hard at times. I should have liked to remain 
there all the days of my life. — I don’t care 
for this business of chasing the Blue Bird,” 
he added sulkily. 

"That is because you do not understand,” 
said David. "Your duty is to obey and do 
as I tell you, not to grumble and find fault 
with every little hardship ! There is a goal 
that I am aiming for, and the Blue Bird is 
leading me there ; so I must and will follow 
it.” 

The Voice grumbled a bit more, but 


The Mansion of Happiness 
David paid no attention to it, for his mind 
was filled with more interesting thoughts. 
He had rested under a tree as night ap- 
proached, and the Blue Bird had sought 
shelter in the thick foliage of the same tree. 
The Voice had taken this opportunity to 
speak to him again. 

David was now in the Forest Beyond the 
Woodlands, you perceive, for he had 
stepped into this country when he passed 
through the little door that led from the other 
side of the great tree. In this land things 
happen otherwise than in our land; or, if 
they do not actually happen otherwise, it 
seems so to those who live there, for every- 
one there is able to understand the inside of 
a thing as well as the outside. If you are 
able to understand only the outside of a 
thing, you will, more times than a few, 
entirely misunderstand the whole thing; 

[59] 


The Forest Beyond the Woodlands 

but if you can understand the inside, it is 
not in the least necessary to bother much 
about the outside, for that will take care of 
itself. Everything that has an outside has 
been made for the sake of the inside that it 
contains ; and as everything has two sides, of 
course, you understand that there must be an 
mside as well as an oufside. It is a very 
good thing to be able to see the inside of a 
thing and to look for it more carefully than 
you look for the outside; and if you learn 
really to see it, you will have more than a 
few surprises in your life, through finding 
that you are able to see both sides at once. 

David now found himself able to under- 
stand the song of the Blue Bird as he had 
never understood it before; for he could now 
perceive the inside of things as well as the 
outside. He was much surprised when he 
realized that, instead of its being just a bird’s 
[6o] 


The Mansion of Happiness 
song as he had always supposed, each note 
meant certain definite ideas and thoughts 
which the Blue Bird was expressing. For 
this reason the song was never twice exactly 
alike. David had never noticed this before : 
the song had always seemed to him just the 
same clear, sweet musical ripple, repeating 
itself over and over. Now he began to de- 
tect the several notes and how varied they 
were in accent and arrangement; and he 
learned that it was within this variety of ac- 
cent and arrangement that the sense of the 
song was to be found. Then, little by little, 
David caught the inner meanings of the dif- 
ferent symbols of sound; so that, from now 
on, every time the Blue Bird sang, its song 
conveyed a special message to David’s heart 
and mind. 

He had followed the Bird for some time — 
just how long, he did not know — when 
[6i] 


The Forest Beyond the Woodlands 
presently he came upon a tiny green rose- 
covered cottage. The Bird flew to the vine 
over the doorway and began to sing as if its 
tiny throat would burst. 

“Knock on the door, knock on the door! 

Here lives the good woman you once 
met before.” 

David walked up to the door and knocked 
fearlessly. In a moment it opened; and 
there before him stood the dear little white- 
haired old woman whom he had met in the 
woods. 

“David!” she cried in delight. “David! 
why, is it really you? Have you come at 
last? I have been looking for you this long 
time. So you did see the Blue Bird after 
all, and you did follow it. I know that you 
followed it; else you never could have found 
[62] 


The Mansion of Happiness 
your way here. One never reaches this 
house in any other way, for this, you know, 
is the Mansion of Happiness. Come in,” 
she added. “You are welcome!” 

“Is this really the Mansion of Happi- 
ness?” asked David. “I have heard of it 
before : we used to play a game called ‘The 
Mansion of Happiness.’ But I never knew 
there was a real place of that name.” 

“Yes, there is a real place of that name, 
David, and this is it.” 

“Well,” said David, “then I should like to 
spend the rest of my life right here.” 

“No, you wouldn’t, either,” said the old 
woman. She spoke so abruptly that she al- 
most startled David. 

“Why not?” said he. 

“Because you would tire of it.” 

“Why?” 


[63] 


The Forest Beyond the Woodlands 

‘‘Because you are a living Soul/’ said the 
old woman, “and a living Soul always tires 
of a thing in time.” 

“Why?” asked David. 

“Because if it didn’t, and were perfectly 
satisfied, it would know no progress. It is 
dissatisfaction caused by growing tired of a 
thing, or the growing tired of a thing causing 
dissatisfaction, that makes one desire and 
seek something else. It is this desire and 
seeking that is the root of all progress.” 
David found it hard to understand her very 
well ; her words seemed strange to him. So 
he just said, “Why?” 

“Because you are a living Soul, David; 
never forget that. It is worth remembering, 
and it will help you to understand many 
strange things.” 

David looked at her in silent wonder. It 
seemed to him as if there were a beautiful 

[64] 


The Mansion of Happiness 
golden light about her, and he felt a gentle 
peace that reminded him of his own Mother. 

“I should like to stay here with you,” he 
said. 

“You may,” she answered, “until you are 
tired of it.” 

So David remained. 

If we tried to measure in days and nights 
as we count them, it would take very many 
before we had enough to cover the time that 
David remained there ; but he was in such a 
happy state of mind that there seemed to him 
to be no time at all. This is the way it is 
with us all when we are truly very happy. 

One day David began to grow restless. 
He had strapped about his waist the case 
that contained his hunting-knife, and had 
taken out the knife and was feeling of the 
blade. He stooped over to sharpen it on the 
sole of his shoe. As he did so, the little 

[65] 


The Forest Beyond the Woodlands 
leathern pocket of the case flew open. 
Something fell from it. He leaned down 
and picked it up — a spray of tiny forget-me- 
nots, dried and almost colourless. 

‘‘Ruth!’’ he cried, almost as if he expected 
her really to hear him. ''Ruth, where are 
you? I have been away from you so long! 
How have you been all this long time? 
Where are you? Are you still at the 
Cobbler’s cottage?” 

There was no answer save the song of a 
distant bird, which broke on the peaceful air 
unheeded, for David was deep in thought. 
From this time on, he grew more and more 
restless. The old Woman noticed it and 
smiled quietly to herself, but she said 
nothing, for she wished David to speak 
first. 

"Mother,” he said one day — for he had 
learned to call her that — "Mother, I can’t 
[ 66 ] 


The Mansion of Happiness 

stay here any longer : I must go on ! I want 
to find the Tree in the midst of the Garden. 
That is what I started out to find. I 
thought the Blue Bird would have taken me 
there, but he has not, after all.” 

“Did you follow him'?” asked the old 
Woman gently. 

“Yes,” said David. 

“How long did you follow him?” she 
asked. 

“Till he led me here.” 

“Then what happened?” 

“Why, then — — forgot — about him,” 
said David thoughtfully. 

“Yes,” said the old Woman, “it is just so. 
But you should never forget about him, 
David; else how can he guide you?” 

“True,” said David. “I am truly sorry !” 
“Don’t be sorry, since you have remem- 
bered him again. David, many older men 

[67] 


The Forest Beyond the Woodlands 
than you have forgotten to follow the Blue 
Bird; many have never even followed him 
long enough to see as much as the outside of 
my dwelling house, let alone ever daring to 
knock on the door.” 

‘'What has happened to them?” asked 
David. 

“Some of them are wandering about in the 
Forest, lost; some have returned to their own 
homes and forgotten the Tree, the Garden, 
and the Blue Bird. Others have fallen into 
a deep sleep and are merely existing, not 
really living at all. These last will only 
waken when Sister Experience comes upon 
them and gives them a good shaking to wake 
them up ; she is always looking for those who 
are asleep and need to be wakened. Why 
do you wish to find the Tree?” she added 
questioningly. 

“Because I know that it must be very 

[ 68 ], 


The Mansion of Happiness 
beautiful and its fruit very delicious,” said 
David. “I want to find the way so that I 
can guide Ruth there; I want her to see it 
and to have some of its fruit. For I want 
her to have the very best that there is.” 

“Well,” said the old Woman,“you are on 
the right path, and as long as you remember 
Ruth and seek for her sake, you need not fear 
forgetfulness. But you must remember to 
follow the Blue Bird on past the Red Castle 
where the Bronze King dwells and the 
brown Lions guard the way. Then you 
must go on over the Burning Mountain, for 
it is on the other side of it that the Garden 
lies. If you can capture the Pale-Coloured 
Winged Horse, he will help you — but it is 
almost impossible to capture him!’ 

David’s eyes shone with a new light as the 
old Woman spoke. 

“I will go!” he cried earnestly. “The 

[69] 


The Forest Beyond the Woodlands 

next time I hear the Blue Bird sing, I will 
find and follow him!” 

The next night the moon shone brightly. 
David had just crawled into bed. He was 
tired, and the clean white sheets looked and 
felt very good to him. But just as he was 
about to close his eyes he heard the Blue 
Bird’s song. He sprang up, dressed hur- 
riedly, strapped on his hunting-knife, and 
swung his axe over his shoulder. 

Before he left the room, though, he wrote 
a few words on a bit of paper. This he 
pinned on his pillow. In the morning the 
old Woman found this message: 

'The Blue Bird has called me; I am off to 
follow its trail. I can never forget your 
kindness or your home. Thank you 
always. 

"David.” 


[70] 


THE NEXT NIGHT THE MOON SHONE 
BRIGHTLY. DAVID HAD JUST 
CRAWLED INTO BED 




t 



» * 


w 


< 


T 




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C ^ f * 

-O 


Ci * i 

ic # ;^i»|iir>^)^. 



* 

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^4 •;-^ 


1 I 


CHAPTER VI 


THE PALACE OF THE 
BRONZE KING 

AND what, during all this time, was hap- 
pening to Ruth? We have left her a long 
time, and our thoughts naturally wander 
back to her, for we can no more forget her 
than David can. 

The old Cobbler and his wife treated her 
very harshly after David left. They made 
her work twice as hard, for in a way they 
held her responsible for his disappearance. 
She grew very, very unhappy; for she was 
very lonely, and she longed to know what 
had become of her dear friend and playmate. 
One day — it must have been at least a year 
from the time David left her, and it may 

[71] 


The Forest Beyond the Woodlands 
have been several years; it seemed so to her, 
anyway — she knew that the same season had 
come round again, for the forget-me-nots in 
the meadow were in bloom, and the air was 
filled with the soft light and gentle fragrance 
that she had always remembered as belong- 
ing to that last sad, beautiful day that they 
had spent together. She had left her work 
unfinished and had wandered through the 
fields and meadows to the hillside where they 
had rested and David had shown her the 
Blue Bird. 

She sat down on the soft grass. A bunch 
of forget-me-nots that she had gathered in 
the meadow drooped and faded in the heat of 
her hand. But even as they faded and their 
frail breath went from them, their odour 
filled the air; and as Ruth closed her eyes in 
thought, it seemed to her that David must 
be near. 


[72] 


The Palace of the Bronze King 
This happened, as it chanced, at the very 
moment when David found the faded forget- 
me-nots in his hunting-case, and their 
thoughts really were together, though at the 
time neither realized or knew it to be so. 

All at once a great, deep, pure desire came 
over Ruth. She opened her eyes and lis- 
tened. There was no Blue Bird singing for 
her. She lifted the drooping flowers to her 
lips. “Dear Flowers,” she whispered, “can 
you not help me? I will leave this spot 
where all is sadness ; I will go in the direction 
David went; perhaps I can find and help 
him. Anyway, I will seek and strive.” 

She rose, stretched her hands toward the 
great bright sun, and prayed that her foot- 
steps might be guided aright. She stooped 
to lift the tiny blossoms that lay beside her 
and, searching among them for the largest 
flowers, tucked a spray into her dress. Then 

[73] 


The Forest Beyond the Woodlands 

she started down the hillside in the direction 
David had taken so long ago. She followed 
his trail faithfully as far as she could recall 
it. But when she reached the point where 
he had disappeared, her mind became con- 
fused and bewildered. 

Her trail was to be a hard one indeed, for 
she was following only a vague memory, 
whereas David had followed an ideal so 
clear and vivid that it had expressed itself 
in living song. She pushed bravely on, 
though, for she was not one to turn back after 
starting out. She longed to find David, or 
at least to know of his welfare; and she had 
no desire to return to the Cobbler’s cottage 
again. 

The sun set, and it grew dark save for the 
stars overhead, which gave little light in the 
depth of the forest. At last, exhausted, she 

[74] 


SHE ROSE TO HER FEET, STRETCHED 
HER HANDS TOWARD THE GREAT 
BRIGHT SUN AND PRAYED 


4 



The Palace of the Bronze King 

sat down under a large tree and fell fast 
asleep. She slept all night long and far into 
the morning. The night was warm and dry, 
with no chill in the air, and she awakened 
much refreshed. The sun was almost in the 
zenith when finally she rose and started on 
her way. Soon, coming to a sparkling moun- 
tain brook, she stopped to drink of its cool 
waters. 

She had just risen from a large rock by the 
water’s edge and stood shaking the clear 
drops from her finger-tips, when the sound 
of voices startled her. She turned; and 
there through the trees behind her rode on 
prancing horses a party of huntsmen, their 
spears and knives glittering in the sunlight. 

She attempted to hide in a neighbouring 
thicket. But it was too late: one of the 
party had spied her. 

[75] 


The Forest Beyond the Woodlands 
‘"Yeho!” he called gaily to his comrades. 
''What have we here?” And he pointed to 
where poor Ruth stood. In a moment he 
had ridden up beside her. 

"What do you here?” he asked in a harsh, 
gruff voice. "Drinking from the King’s 
own stream and eating berries and other 
fruits in the King’s own woods ! Who gave 
you permission to wander here?” 

"No one gave me permission,” answered 
the frightened girl. "I did not know that I 
was in any King’s land. I am a poor Seeker, 
seeking for the Blue Bird and David. 
Have you seen either? Surely, if you have 
met them, you will tell me in which direction 
they were going? I did not know that I was 
taking that which belongs to another, and 
I am sorry with all my heart. Ask the King 
to pardon me. I will go on my way and will 
eat no more fruit nor drink more water till I 

[76] 


The Palace of the Bronze King 
am sure that I am beyond the great King’s 
border lands.” 

“Ask the King to pardon you, yourself,” 
answered the huntsman roughly. “For 
here he comes.” 

As he spoke he pointed toward an open 
meadow, across the smooth surface of which 
a man came riding on a great black horse. 
As he drew near, Ruth saw what a strange 
looking person he was. His face was round 
and full, and its colour was that of burnished 
bronze. His hair was of the colour of flame, 
and it grew in shaggy locks that hung about 
his neck like tongues of fire hanging upside 
down. His eyes were like burning live coals 
under thick, bushy eyebrows of a dull gray, 
like ashes after the fire has gone out of them. 
His voice when he spoke sounded like the 
roar of a blacksmith’s bellows. 

“Who is this girl?” he asked. 

[77] 


The Forest Beyond the Woodlands 

Poor Ruth was frightened, but, summon- 
ing all her courage, she answered by telling 
him for whom she sought. 

‘'A Blue Bird, indeed!” said the King. 
‘If my huntsmen come across any such, you 
may be very sure they will make quick work 
of it! It would make a dainty dish to set 
before their King. As for that young 
David, he had best keep off my land. All 
who are found trespassing upon my kingdom 
are put to death at once. It is only because 
you are a girl, and a very fair one at that, 
that your life has been spared; these men of 
mine would have killed you long before I 
came upon them, had you been that young 
David of whom you speak, instead of the 
pretty lass that you are ! As it is,” he added 
with a rough, coarse laugh, looking toward 
his huntsmen, “we will spare her and take 
her to the Palace. She will make a merry 

[78] 


The Palace of the Bronze King 

plaything for us all ; and, if the fancy takes 
me, she shall become my wife and the Queen 
of my vast kingdom.” 

Ruth shuddered at these words, and 
looked hurriedly about her to see if there 
were not some way by which she could es- 
cape. The man who had first spoken took 
her roughly by the arm and led her up be- 
side the King’s great black horse. 

‘‘You shall ride behind me on my black 
charger,” said the King. As he spoke he 
drew off his gauntlet and offered her his hand 
to help her as she sprang from the ground to 
the great broad back of the powerful beast. 
She noticed that his hand was bronze-col- 
oured like his face; and as she put her own 
cool, soft little hand into it, its fierce and al- 
most burning heat made her feel faint. But 
she knew that she must not lose conscious- 
ness, for then she could not know what was 

[79] 


The Forest Beyond the Woodlands 

happening to her or whither she was being 
taken. Once more she mustered all her 
courage; and as this strange procession jour- 
neyed through the forest toward the Palace, 
her lips moved in prayer. 

Within a few minutes she found herself 
a prisoner within the Red Palace of the great 
Bronze King. 


[8o] 


CHAPTER VII 


IN THE PALACE 

RUTH awoke the next morning to find 
herself in very comfortable quarters; for the 
Bronze King had taken quite a fancy to the 
pretty golden-haired little girl. He had 
told the women of the Palace that, after she 
had been properly instructed and educated 
in all the customs and laws of the land which 
it was necessary for her to know, he intended 
to marry her and make her the Queen of his 
Kingdom. She was not treated cruelly in 
any way, for she had all the luxuries that any 
little girl could wish — a warm comfortable 
bed in a pretty sunny room, dainty clothes to 
wear, and all the delicious food that she 
could possibly eat. The women in attend- 
[8i] 


The Forest Beyond the Woodlands 
ance at the Palace took care of her, and they 
were all kind and thoughtful. But they 
never permitted her to go outside the Palace 
grounds, for they feared that she might try 
to escape, and that, if she did, the King 
would lose his bride-to-be. He was utterly 
selfish and unjust, and sometimes he was 
terribly cruel ; so that everyone feared to dis- 
obey his orders. The large rose-garden, en- 
closed by a high brick wall, was the only 
spot outside the Palace in which Ruth was 
permitted to wander. 

Day after day she had her stupid lessons ; 
day after day they made her repeat the dull, 
senseless rules of the Kingdom’s Constitu- 
tion. These she could neither understand 
nor remember, and for this reason she made 
very little progress. Her teachers, who 
found themselves growing fond of the gentle 
blue-eyed child, felt sorry for her, and wished 
[82] 



THE LARGE ROSE-GARDEN ENCLOSED 
BY THE HIGH BRICK WALL WAS THE 
ONLY SPOT OUTSIDE THE PALACE 
ITSELF, WHERE RUTH WAS PER- 
MITTED TO WANDER 





In the Palace 


that she might escape her hard tasks. Often 
and often Ruth herself thought of the Cob- 
bler’s cottage, and felt that her life would 
have been far happier had she remained 
there. Then she thought of David. And 
when her thoughts turned in this direction, 
her poor heart beat so fast and ached so sorely 
that it seemed like a wild bird held within a 
cruel wire cage from which there was no es- 
cape. What could she do? How could she 
ever hope to find David now, since she had 
lost the trail, lost the Blue Bird, and was 
held a captive within the high walls of the 
Bronze King’s Palace? 

Ruth’s voice was clearer and sweeter than 
ever, and the King found one of his chief 
delights in hearing her sing. Often he 
would call for music, bidding her bring her 
harp that she might play. Then she would 
sing, while all within the royal Palace lis- 

[83] 


The Forest Beyond the Woodlands 
tened. The girl loved her music above all 
things else. Often she composed songs that 
filled her own heart with delight, for they 
captured and contained memories of her old 
life of the days when David had worked and 
played with her — those days that seemed 
now so long, long ago. 

Her voice had an almost magical effect 
upon those who listened. Sleep would 
creep over them one by one till many had 
closed their eyes and were wrapped in deep 
and peaceful slumbers, while her song still 
filled the room with music. One after an- 
other would drop off to sleep in this way. 
Sometimes the first to be affected would be 
one, sometimes another. Sometimes the 
King himself would be the first to sleep; then 
again he would remain awake during all the 
music, according to how weary he might feel 
when the song began. So it was with all 

[84] 


In the Palace 


who listened to her clear girlish voice. 

Once the King said to her: “You will put 
us all to sleep some day; yes, every one in the 
Palace, if you but sing long enough.” 

“What a funny sight that would be !” cried 
Ruth, laughing. “Some day perhaps I will 
try it.” 

There was one song that she loved par- 
ticularly. She had written it herself, and it 
meant a great deal to her. The words were : 

“The forget-me-nots in the mjeadow 

Reflect the sky’s own blue. 

As they lift their tiny blossoms 

To catch the falling dew. 

The Blue Bird flies o’er the meadow; 

Through the calm his note is heard. 

Lo, the throbbing heart of Nature 

Is in tune with the song of a bird.” 

Day by day she longed to escape. But 
that was impossible: she was watched and 

[85] 


The Forest Beyond the Woodlands 
guarded. A prisoner ! She knew it all too 
well. The thought of ever marrying the 
Bronze King grew more and more terrible to 
her. ‘1 can’t do it! I can’t do it!” she 
would say to herself. ‘‘What shall I do? 
Oh, David, what shall I do?” 

At such times she took up the little forget- 
me-nots, the poor faded, dried, dead little 
things, only the shell of the lovely and fra- 
grant blue blossoms that she had gathered in 
the meadow that ill-fated day when she left 
the Cobbler’s cottage. She loved them — 
even these dry little shells — and she always 
kept them near her, for they seemed to con- 
tain the memory of all that was most pre- 
cious to her. 

“David!” she cried, “I won t — I won't do 
it! I WILL NOT MARRY THE 
BRONZE KING! NEVER!" 


[ 86 ] 


CHAPTER VIII 


A MESSAGE FROM RUTH 

THE moon was shining clear and bright 
as David stepped out of the door of the Man- 
sion of Happiness. The clear song of the 
Bird broke again upon the peaceful evening 
air. David ran to the foot of the tree 
whence the notes came. Seeking eagerly 
among the branches, he caught a shimmer of 
iridescent blue in the soft moonlight. 

'‘My Bird, my Bird!” he cried, "I have 
found you again at last. Lead on — guide 
me there — guide me! Do not let me lose 
sight of you again ! My Bird, I need you, 
I need to follow you, for her dear sake. For 
I must guide Ruth to the Tree when I have 
found the way.” 


[87] 


The Forest Beyond the Woodlands 
The Bird flew before him, and all night he 
trudged on and on through the deep, dark 
forest, over rough unmarked trails filled 
with briers and treacherous pitfalls where 
his steps were all too apt to falter. 

“Ruth — where can Ruth be?” he said to 
himself. 

“In a palace dark and deep 
Ruth is lying fast asleep,” 

sang the Blue Bird. 

“What do you mean?” cried David. 
“Guide me there, my Blue Bird; guide me 
there where she is. I must find her!” 

“In the Bronze Kings’s dark domain. 
There the poor girl must remain,” 

sang the Bird. 

“Where?” asked David. “Why?” 

“She is a maiden sorely tried — 

The King will have her for his bride,” 

came the song in reply. 

[ 88 ] 


FAR AWAY IN THE DISTANCE HE SAW 
THE PALACE OF THE GREAT BRONZE 
KING 




A Message from Ruth 

“What!” David cried in a wild frenzy 
of fear and anger. “NEVER! Blue 
Bird, Blue Bird, lead me to her! I must 
save my Ruth! She must be saved from 
this terrible and cruel fate !” 

“I can guide you to the door. 

But I, alas ! can do no more.” 

“Guide me there, then — that is all I ask!” 
cried David. 

So, after following the Blue Bird over an- 
other long, long trail, he saw at last, far 
away in the distance, the Palace of the great 
Bronze King. Its tower and parapets rose 
in a huge mass of ugly red above the green 
foliage and gray rocks of the hillside. 

In a few minutes he stood without the 
massive walls. It was very early in the 
morning, and all within seemed as still and 
quiet as though it were midnight. 

[89] 


The Forest Beyond the Woodlands 

“Is Ruth really there?” he thought to him- 
self. “How can I be sure of this? and, be- 
ing sure, how can I ever free her?” 

“Wait in patience, doubt no more; 

And never try to force the door,” 

came the song again. 

“That’s all right,” said David, “but how 
can a man be patient for ever? I must and 
will rescue Ruth!” 

As he spoke there appeared, in the 
window above him, the Bronze King him- 
self. David hid in the leaves of a neigh- 
bouring thicket so that the King could not 
see him, though he himself could gaze with 
safety upon the unearthly and monstrous vis- 
age of the King. The thought of Ruth’s 
being a captive in that monster’s Palace was 
almost more than he could endure. 

The sun shone through the window right 

Fqo] 


A Message from Ruth 

into the King’s face. It was a curious fact, 
and one which had been noticed by Ruth as 
well as by others in the Palace, that in the 
bright sunlight the King’s face always 
seemed to grow a still darker bronze. The 
more light shone upon him, the darker he 
seemed to grow. Now, in this brilliant 
morning light, his face was darker than the 
moon when, in eclipse, it takes on a strange 
and terrifying cast which no one can look at 
without a shudder. 

A surge of repulsion swept over David as 
he gazed; he thought he had never seen any 
being so thoroughly ugly and so altogether 
awful. Then the thought of sweet, gentle 
Ruth filled his heart, and in a moment he 
grew strong and fearless. He resolved to 
rescue her, no matter what the cost might be. 

‘1 must wait in patience,” thought David 
to himself. ‘‘Wait and watch. I will 

[91] 


The Forest Beyond the Woodlands 
learn something of the manners and customs 
of this strange monarch.” 

So he hid himself in the thicket to watch 
and see what might develop in and around 
the Palace. He could hear the servants 
moving about, and now and then he caught 
a glimpse of someone inside the Castle. 
Soon he judged that breakfast was being 
served. Not long after this, great prepara- 
tions were made for something — some kind 
of expedition. David watched and waited 
in curiosity to know what was going to hap- 
pen. Soon the King, with a number of his 
followers, appeared at the great gateway. 
All of them! were armed with spears and 
hunting-knives. The grooms brought horses 
from the royal stables, which the great 
men mounted ; and soon they rode away into 
the distant forest that covered the hillsides 
on either hand. 


[92] 


A Message from Ruth 
‘"Now,” thought David, ‘hf the King and 
his followers have left the Palace, it is time 
for me to try to prove in some way whether 
or not Ruth really is here/’ 

Just as the thought passed through his 
mind, someone moved at one of the upper 
windows. He looked more closely. The 
next instant, to his wonder and delight, he 
recognized his dearly loved Ruth ! She 
opened the casement window and leaned far 
out, gazing up into the clear sky above. 
The bright sunlight touched her hair so that 
it seemed like a crown of gold upon her head. 
Her eyes, upturned, held the wondrous beau- 
ty of the sky in their depths. 

''Ruth !” he called. She heeded not. He 
dared not call louder, lest others within the 
Palace might hear. He watched her, spell- 
bound. Suddenly she moved and turned as 
if to leave the window. Without even 

[93] 


The Forest Beyond the Woodlands 
giving a thought to what he was doing, 
David shaped his lips to give a low, clear, 
sweet whistle — the call they had used to- 
gether at the Cobbler’s cottage. 

The girl turned toward the window, her 
face very white and her breath coming in 
short, quick gasps. He knew that she had 
heard, for her eyes searched the garden be- 
low, her delicate hand resting on her throat, 
her whole expression one of fear and wonder. 

''Here wings to serve you true — 

Try what written words will do.” 

Yes, it was the song of the ever faithful 
Blue Bird. David saw the little creature 
hopping on a twig close by. 

"Good!” cried the boy. Then, searching 
in his pocket, he found a pencil and a bit of 
paper and wrote hastily : 

[94] 


A Message from Ruth 

“Ruth, it is I, David, come to rescue you. 
We must flee together. Come to me!” 

He folded the bit of paper carefully, and 
the Bird took it in its beak and flew over the 
casement window, dropping it on the sill 
just in front of Ruth. She opened it, read 
the message. Tears of joy filled her eyes. 
Then, eagerly, she wrote this answer : 

“I am watched and guarded constantly. 
I cannot possibly come to you, David. 
You must capture the Pale-Coloured 
Winged Horse. He only can save my 
life. Capture him, come to the Palace 
some dark starless night riding upon his 
back, and fly to the garden at the eastern 
side of the Palace. There I can meet you, 
but I cannot go outside the garden wall. 
Help me, David dear — no one else can 
ever save me. 

“Ruth.” 

She had just time to finish the message, 
fold it, and drop it from the casement win- 

[95] 


The Forest Beyond the Woodlands 
dow, when one of the women of the Palace 
came to her. It was time to begin her daily 
tasks and lessons. But the faithful Blue 
Bird was still keeping watch, and the bit of 
white paper had no sooner touched the 
ground than he flew to it, seized it in his 
beak, and bore it safely to David. 

“The Pale-Coloured Winged Horse*?” 
said David. “Where can I find him? He 
must be the same of which she spoke in the 
Mansion.of Happiness. She told me I must 
go on past the Bronze King’s Palace, where 
the Lions are! I wonder where the Lions 
are, and why I have not seen them? I will 
go on, for I must capture the horse : I know 
that is the only way to rescue Ruth. — Blue 
Bird, guide me !” he cried aloud. 

A flash of azure darted before his eyes and 
disappeared round the corner of the Palace 
wall. He followed, almost running in his 

[96]. 


A Message from Ruth 
eagerness not to lose sight of his trusted 
guide. 

Turning the corner of the great brick wall, 
he came suddenly into the very midst of the 
Lions. There were a dozen or more of them, 
some standing, some lying down dozing in 
the warm, bright sunshine. David was 
thoroughly frightened when he realized 
where he was, and he hesitated, not knowing 
what was best to do; for he had come upon 
them so suddenly that he had run right into 
their midst before realizing where he was. 
He drew his hunting-knife from its sheath, 
for he was not one to turn back. He had 
learned long ago that more is gained by keep- 
ing bravely on than by wasting time trying 
to retrace one’s footsteps. 

Soon he noticed that each Lion was 
chained and that the beasts, great, fierce, and 
powerful as they were, could only move as 

[97] 


The Forest Beyond the Woodlands 

far as their chains would allow. Beyond 
this point they were as powerless and harm- 
less as tethered watch dogs. But as David 
advanced, the Lions walked toward him, 
closing in on either side, and the boy’s heart 
sank within him lest, after all, one of the 
terrible creatures reach him. He noticed a 
narrow pathway running through the grass, 
and this he followed slowly, deliberately, 
and carefully, for he felt that it must have 
been worn by those who knew the safe and 
sure way through the domain of these fierce 
creatures. He proved his wisdom thereby; 
for although, as he advanced, each Lion 
pulled its chain taut, none could quite reach 
him. Yet several times he felt their hot, 
burning breath upon his cheek as he passed 
them by. 

At last he reached a point beyond and 
away from them. ‘There!” he said to him- 

[98] 


A Message from Ruth 

self, ‘‘that is over. How truly terrible 
it seemed while I was doing it! If I 
had run blindly forward when I wakened 
to a realization of where I was, I should 
probably have run right into the jaws of the 
first Lion; but I went slowly and picked my 
way, and here I am, safe. Now I can look 
back over the trail and see how the path 
winds in and out. Yes, indeed, it does pay 
to be careful and keep one’s eyes open, after 
all!’^ 

As he thought about it he began to wonder 
why the Lions had made no noise. Not one 
of them had roared or even growled. The 
reason was really this, though David did not 
know it : the Lions were all trained to 
guard that little path over which David had 
walked so wisely and cautiously. They had 
been taught that one who walked on the 
path was not to be disturbed ; for only those 

[99] 


The Forest Beyond the Woodlands 

who had self-possession and wisdom could 
see to choose the way of safety. But any 
who, coming that way, diverged from the 
pathway, were not wise ; and these could and 
should suffer for their folly. Many a one 
had already become food for the ravenous 
beasts, who were at all times half starved. 
Had David taken one misstep, had he left 
the little narrow winding path by so much as 
a hair’s breadth, the Lions would have roared 
furiously, alarmed all within the Palace, and 
frightened poor David so terribly that he 
would have run blindly on, and so have been 
caught and devoured. He little realized 
how narrow an escape he had had. 


[lOOj 


CHAPTER IX 


THEHUTINTHEFOREST 

NOW that he was safe and away from the 
Lions, David looked about for the Blue 
Bird. He looked and looked in vain. 

'‘Must I lose you again?” he said to him- 
self. "Well, I will not forget you again, 
my Blue Bird! I will keep you in my 
memory. And sometime, somewhere, I 
know that I shall hear your song again. But 
I cannot delay longer now: I must push 
on, for I am bound to find and capture the 
Pale-Coloured Winged Horse.” 

He had gone some distance through the 
forest when he met an old, old wood-cutter 
carrying a bundle of wood upon his back. 

"What do you here, my son?” questioned 

[ 101 ] 


The Forest Beyond the Woodlands 
the old man the minute he caught sight of 
David. ‘'What are you seeking, pray?” 

“Why think that I am seeking anything. 
Father?” asked David, smiling. 

“You must be,” replied the old man, “or 
else you could not be here. This is the Land 
of the Seeker, you know, and all who are here 
have some definite purpose. What is 
yours? I should like to know, for you are 
an earnest, interesting looking lad, and your 
quest must be well worth while.” 

“I am seeking the Pale-Coloured Winged 
Horse,” said David. 

“Indeed !” answered the old man. There 
was a note of real surprise in his voice. 
''Indeed! And do you know where to find 
it?” 

“No,” David answered earnestly, “but I 
mean to find it. I am going to seek and in- 
quire and question till I get some clew to the 
[ 102 ] 


The Hut in the Forest 


creature’s whereabouts; for it is that, and 
that alone, which I seek. Can you tell me 
something about the wonderful Horse? 
Perhaps you have seen it, or perhaps you can 
tell me where it is apt to roam?” 

‘‘You have come to just the right person,” 
said the old man, resting his weight upon the 
great bundle of sticks, which he had lowered 
to. the ground beside him. “I can tell you 
much about the Pale-Coloured Horse, for I 
know the crystal spring where he comes to 
drink every third night, and the great green 
meadow where he comes to feed when the 
spring nights grow warm and the tender 
grass begins to send forth its delicate stalks.” 

“Tell me, tell me!” cried David eagerly. 
“Direct me to the path that leads to the 
spring and to the meadow.” 

“Why are you so anxious to capture the 
Winged Horse?” 

[103] 


The Forest Beyond the Woodlands 

''Because I must save Ruth! She is held 
a prisoner in the Bronze King’s Palace. 
There is no telling what may happen to her ! 
I am no powerful prince with an army of 
foot-soldiers and horsemen, else I would in- 
vade the Bronze King’s country with a 
mighty host. I am a poor wood-cutter’s son. 
If I can capture this wonderful Horse, I can 
save Ruth. It is the only means I have, so 
you see I must capture him!” 

"How will the Winged Horse help you?” 

"How?” repeated David. "I can sit 
upon its back, tame and subdue it, so that it 
will know me for its master; then ride upon 
it to the Palace and fly down into the Garden 
where Ruth is permitted to walk — the royal 
Garden surrounded by the high red wall 
with the iron pickets on the top. There 
Ruth can spring upon the Horse beside me, 
and the splendid creature can carry us up 
[104] 


The Hut in the Forest 


into the air, up, away, safe from the Bronze 
King, his terrible Palace, and his great 
chained Lions.” 

‘‘Has he Lions, tooT’ asked the wood- 
cutter. 

“Yes,” said David, “a dozen of them, 
chained outside the Palace.” 

“How do you know that?” 

“Because I have seen them and walked 
through their midst.” 

“Walked through their midst! What do 
you mean?” 

So David told him of his adventure 
with the Lions; of how he had followed the 
little winding path and had seen that the 
fierce creatures were chained and unable 
to reach him, so long as he walked wisely 
and fearlessly. 

“Well, well, well!” said the old man. 
“You certainly are a brave lad, David! 


The Forest Beyond the Woodlands 

You deserve help, indeed, and I stand ready 
to help you. Come with me.’’ 

David followed wherever the old man 
led till they came to a tiny log cabin. Here 
his guide pushed open the door and stepped 
back, waiting for David to enter first. The 
interior of the cottage was modestly fur- 
nished, but it seemed very homelike and 
comfortable. 

‘‘We will have supper together, and you 
shall spend the night here with me; in the 
meantime I can tell you how best to capture 
the Winged Horse.” 

So David remained with the kind old man 
and listened eagerly to all he had to say. 

“How did you happen to come here, any- 
way, David? It must be a long way from 
your home ?” 

“Yes,” said David thoughtfully, “it is. 
But, you see, I had to follow the Blue Bird, 
[106] 


KNEELING BESIDE A LOW OAK CHEST 
HE TOOK A RUSTY KEY AND FITTED 
THIS INTO THE WORN KEYHOLE 



The Hut in the Forest 


and he led me here. First to the tree with 
the little door ; then to the Cobbler’s cottage 
where I met Ruth; then through the forest 
to the Mansion of Happiness (I stayed too 
long a time there — I seemed to forget) ; then 
on till I came to the Bronze King’s Palace 
and saw Ruth again.” Here he related to 
his new-found friend how he had seen Ruth, 
sent a message to her, and received a mes- 
sage from her; then how he had started on his 
way again. “But tell me more about the 
Winged Horse,” he added hastily. 

The old wood-cutter rose from his chair 
and crossed the room. Kneeling beside a 
low oak chest mounted with silver trim- 
mings, he took a rusty key that hung on a 
chain about his neck and fitted it into the 
worn keyhole. David could hear the old 
lock scrape as the key turned. Then the old 
man lifted the heavy lid. David sprang for- 
[107] 


The Forest Beyond the Woodlands 
ward to help him, for the solid wood and sil- 
ver made it very heavy. After seeking 
among its contents for a few minutes the old 
man nodded his head with satisfaction. 
What he lifted out was a beautiful silver 
bridle, set with blue and amber-coloured 
stones. The bit was a bar of pure yellow 
gold — the only gold about it — and the reins 
were of silken thread interwoven with silver. 

‘‘David,” said the old man, “I will lend 
you this. It contains a wonderful power. 
It is the only bridle with which the Pale- 
Coloured Horse can be captured. The 
moment one slips the golden bit between his 
teeth, that moment the beautiful great 
powerful Horse is tamed, and he who fits the 
bit to his mouth becomes his master. Take 
the bridle, David, and wait patiently at the 
spring, to which the Horse will surely come 
to drink. Seize him fearlessly by the fore- 
[108] 


The Hut in the Forest 


lock and slip this over his head and the bit in- 
to his mouth. He will obey you then, and 
carry you wheresoever you may wish. 
When the creature has served your need, tell 
him to return to my cottage and to me. I 
will take the bridle from him, and then the 
Pale-Coloured Horse will be free once 
more.” 

“Who are you^” asked David. “To 
whom shall I tell the Horse to return'? 
What is your name?” 

“Men call me Wisdom’s Brother,” an- 
swered the old man. “Tell the Winged 
Horse to return to me; he will understand 
and obey you. I will direct you to the 
spring — for the Blue Bird cannot lead you 
now. I will start you on the trail at sunrise 
to-morrow.” 

“Why can the Blue Bird not guide me?” 
asked David. 

[109] 


The Forest Beyond the Woodlands 

'‘Do you know for what the Blue Bird 
stands?” 

David thought for a moment. Then the 
word "happiness” came into his mind. He 
spoke it softly. 

"Exactly!” said the old man. "Happi- 
ness born of Truth; that is, the Happiness 
contained in the Love of Truth. For a Bird 
is but a symbol of thought, and Happiness is 
an expression of thought; the colour repre- 
sents its quality. You have left the region 
of the Blue Bird for a while, for it cannot 
journey a great way from the Mansion of 
Happiness. You are about to enter an- 
other country. At the end of your journey 
you will find the Blue Bird again — yes, you 
will hear it singing.” 


[no] 


CHAPTER X 


THE WINGED HORSE 

THE next morning at sunrise David 
started on his journey. The kind wood-cut- 
ter, true to his word, pointed out the trail 
and even walked some little distance along 
it with the boy, instructing him in many 
things that would be of value to him later. 
David held the precious bridle in his hand. 
His axe he had wished to leave with the 
wood-cutter that he might in some way ex- 
press his gratitude for all that the old man 
had done to help and encourage him. 

‘ About mid-morning, after giving him his 
blessing and wishing him God-speed, his 
good friend parted from him. So the lad 
journeyed on alone, and it was nightfall be- 
[ 111 ] 


The Forest Beyond the Woodlands 
fore he reached the edge of the clear crystal 
pool. But when he saw the spot), there 
could be no doubt in his mind that he had 
found the object of his quest, for the beauty 
of it seemed to surpass anything that he had 
imagined. 

A clear, transparent pool lay before him, 
about one hundred feet wide, almost circular 
in shape. White pebbles made a narrow 
beach on the side from which he approached. 
On either hand grew large paper birch trees, 
beautiful, soaring, and gentle in their state- 
liness. On the further shore the bank rose 
abruptly to a height of five or six feet, and 
there the dark hemlock trees lent colour, 
depth, and coolness to the water below. 
The sand in the bed of the spring looked like 
grains of silver. As the rays of the setting 
sun touched the tree tops and caught the 
shadow of the sky’s deep blue upon the sur- 

[112] 


The Winged Horse 

face of the water, it seemed to David that he 
had never seen so beautiful a spot. He 
wished with all his heart that Ruth were 
there to share it with him. 

Seating himself upon a great moss-cov- 
ered boulder, he watched the sand stirred by 
the water that bubbled up from the very 
heart of the spring. The sun set. One by 
one, tiny stars appeared ; and he sought their 
image on the surface of the now darkened 
pool by which he watched and waited. One 
after another the stars sank below the west- 
ern horizon, as still others rose out of the 
east to lend their beauty to the night. 

A dark shadow fell across a portion of the 
sky. David thought he heard the rustle of 
great wings; but it was too dark for him to 
see, and the thing, whatever it may have 
been, went away, not to return again that 
night. At last the dawn came. He 

[113] 


The Forest Beyond the Woodlands 
watched its glory spread over the mountain 
tops — for far, far in the east rose huge snow- 
covered peaks, and the air stirred cool with 
the coming of morn. 

So the first night passed beside the crystal 
spring, and David had not yet had a glimpse 
of the great and wonderful creature which 
he longed so much to see. Through the day 
he waited, and the next night, and the next 
day, and the next night, with no glimpse of 
the Winged Horse. 

On the third day, just as the coolness of 
the coming dawn stirred the air, he was 
startled by a whinny very near at hand. He 
knelt cautiously and looked all about him, 
but could see nothing. There he rested, sit- 
ting back upon his heels, the precious bridle 
over his arm and his hands folded. Then, 
slowly, fearlessly, and calmly, from the 
depths of the birchen woodlands before 

[114] 


The Winged Horse 


David came the most exquisite creature one 
could ever wish to see — a beautiful Pale- 
Coloured Horse, slender in build, its neck 
curved in an arch of spirited pride, its head 
beautiful in every detail of proportion and 
alight with intelligence. Two great 
feathered wings lay folded against its sides. 
Its tail was long and flowing. David, hold- 
ing his breath, gazed and gazed. 

The Horse walked to the water’s edge and 
drank. Then, lifting its head and facing 
the golden sunrise with ears forward, it 
raised and folded its great wings like a bird 
preparing to fly. Again the sound of its 
whinny broke forth, and a wild woodland 
bird rose close at hand, sending its answering 
call as it, the lesser winged creature, sailed 
away. The Horse dropped its head to 
drink, closing its eyes as if more thoroughly 
to enjoy the cool, refreshing draught. 

[115] 


The Forest Beyond the Woodlands 
Quick as thought David rose, sprang for- 
ward, grasped the forelock and mane of the 
startled creature, the bridle hanging over 
his arm ready to be fitted when the right in- 
stant should come. The struggle was in- 
tense. The Horse reared, plunged, reared 
again, but David held firmly to the forelock 
and mane. The Horse stirred its wings as 
if about to fly. At the same instant it ut- 
tered again its whinnying call, which 
sounded, this time, petulant, terrified, and 
wild. This was David’s opportunity. The 
impatient sound was checked as the golden 
bit slipped into the creature’s open mouth, 
David holding firmly to the forelock while 
with his other hand he adjusted the bridle 
and fitted it to the trembling, quivering 
head. 

'1 have you ! My beautiful Horse, I have 
you!” he cried. ''Ruth shall be saved!” 
[116] 


••YOU MUST TAKE ME TO THE.BRONZE 
KING’S DOMAIN” 


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The Winged Horse 

The Horse turned and rubbed its soft vel- 
vet nose against David’s cheek. Yes, 
David was his master, to be recognized as 
such. The wonderful bridle had given them 
both the power to understand and trust each 
other. 

‘‘You must take me to the Bronze King’s 
domain, dear Winged Horse,” said David. 
“We are to rescue Ruth, the sweetest and 
most beautiful little girl in all the world. It 
is for this I have sought and captured you; 
for the Bronze King is keeping her a prisoner 
in his great Palace. I fear what may hap- 
pen to her. Come, we must go to the Palace 
and hide in the woodlands and watch and 
wait. Perhaps this very night we can 
rescue Ruth.” 

Thus David became the master of the 
Pale-Coloured Winged Horse, whose only 
desire now was to obey and serve him. 

[117] ^ 


CHAPTER XI 


THE DAY BEFORE THE WED- 
DING 

WHEN Ruth realized that it was David 
whom she had seen, that the little written 
message which she treasured so carefully 
and always carried tucked away in a safe 
place near her heart, was truly written by 
him, her joy and fear knew no bounds. 

Yes, it was true: David knew where she 
was. And he would do all in his power to 
rescue her, to save her from the horrible fate 
that hung over her. For had not the Bronze 
King already set the date for their marriage? 
Had she not seen the wedding invitations 
and been forced to fold and address many of 
the great heavy envelopes that contained the 
announcement of the dreaded event? 

[118] 


The Day Before the Wedding 
It was to take place soon — all too soon, 
alas! There was little time to be lost. 
Could David succeed in rescuing her? 
Could he, in so short a time, devise any 
method of saving her from the terrible life 
that seemed so surely about to become hers? 
What if anything happened to David? 
What if he met any of the King’s men in or 
about the woods that adjoined the Palace? 
She recalled what the King had said to her on 
that first day, the day when she was cap- 
tured ; and she shuddered as she repeated the 
words to herself — “As for that young David 
of whom you speak, he had best keep off my 
land ! All who are found trespassing upon 
my kingdom are put to death at once.” 
“David, oh, David! be careful!” she cried. 

Then the thought of the terrible Lions 
filled her with dread. She was sure that he 
could know nothing of them. She had 

[119] 


The Forest Beyond the Woodlands 
feared for him on that memorable morning 
and had listened all that long, dreary day, 
dreading to hear the sound of their deafening 
roar, which would surely be the signal that 
some poor wanderer had fallen their victim. 
But the Lions had been quiet all day, so she 
knew he had escaped and had doubtless left 
the Castle in another direction, knowing 
nothing of their whereabouts or the dangers 
that they embodied. But might he not, if 
he knew nothing of the danger, come upon 
them in returning? He would return in the 
darkness, for she herself had counselled him 
to come on a dark, starless night. ‘'Oh, 
David, David, if I should be the cause of 
your death — !” 

Nearer and nearer drew the date set for 
the wedding. The Palace was to be decked 
in gala fashion, and already preparations 
were under way; the decorators and land- 
[ 120 ], 


The Day Before the Wedding 
scape gardeners were in full possession, 
and there was everywhere an atmosphere of 
eagerness and proud competition. 

It had pleased the fancy of the King to 
make the night preceding the wedding one 
of little merriment, “For,” he said, “I wish 
my bride to be fair and beautiful on my 
wedding day.” 

Poor Ruth had grown pale and thin dur- 
ing her days of captivity. She could neither 
eat nor sleep, and the women in attendance 
had been obliged to use all their arts to keep 
her looking even presentable, for the King 
would permit no pale faces or dull, tear- 
stained eyes. 

So the evening preceding the wedding 
was to be spent quietly. The household was 
to assemble after the evening meal, and 
Ruth was to sing while the others drank and 
smoked. 


[ 121 ] 


The Forest Beyond the Woodlands 


The evening was clear and calm, and the 
lingering twilight revealed a tiny crescent 
moon that sank below the horizon as the last 
glow of sunset faded from the sky. Later 
the wind rose, and dark, threatening storm- 
clouds obscured the light of the watching 
stars. 

Ruth tuned her harp, but there was little 
music in her heart. The dark, cloud-swept 
. night seemed a fitting emblem of her future 
life. 

She sang. 'Tet me forget,” she thought 
to herself, ‘‘let me forget the present and 
the future; let me live in the past.” So she 
sang one after another the songs that she and 
David had loved and sung together. And as 
she sang, there crept over the listeners that 
strange, deep drowsiness that so often 
seemed to follow as a result of her sweet, 
pure music. 


[ 122 ] 


so SHE SANG ONE AFTER ANOTHER 
THE SONGS THAT SHE AND DAVID 
HAD LOVED 



The Day Before the Wedding 


One by one the men and women yawned, 
their heads began to nod, the fires in the 
pipes smouldered and finally burned out, the 
glasses of wine on the tables were left un- 
tasted. Eyes closed, heads drooped at all 
sorts of strange and uncomfortable-looking 
angles; and soon sounds of heavy breathing, 
that rose to the volume of deep snores, filled 
the room. Still Ruth sang, for still not all 
were sleeping. The King would rouse him- 
self every now and then as if striving to 
shake off the stupor that sought to gain pos- 
session of him. 

A strange, strange sound floated in 
through the open window — a sound as of the 
rushing of mighty wings. Ruth paused a 
moment to listen — then she heard the clear, 
high note of David’s whistle! As the last 
note rang its welcome message through her 
throbbing heart, she sang the answering 

[123] 


The Forest Beyond the Woodlands 

notes which, she knew, would convey to 
David the message he longed to hear. 

A huge moth flew in through the open win- 
dow, bumped about among the candles for 
a while, then alighted upon the bald spot on 
the King’s head and walked across the 
smooth surface, dragging its wings as it 
moved. 

Ruth almost laughed aloud — but no, it 
was too serious a moment to yield to such 
an impulse. 

The moth tickled the King. He awoke 
— opened his eyes — brushed his hand im- 
patiently across his forehead — rose from his 
chair. 

Ruth’s heart sank. Was failure to meet 
them after all, when victory had seemed so 
near? 

‘‘You have sung well to-night, little 
[124] 


The Day Before the Wedding 

Queen/’ the King said — “and to-morrow is 
our wedding day.” 

“I have failed, Sire,” she said, “in that 
which I most wished to do.” 

“What is that*?” he asked. 

“I had thought to put you all asleep to- 
night — all here in the Palace. I had almost 
succeeded, when a great moth flew through 
the open window and awakened your Ma- 
jesty. Could I but have reached your side 
in time, I would have driven the thing away : 
then you too would have slept, and then I 
should have been happy indeed!” 

“Well, Child,” said the King indulgently, 
“if you desire that so much, sing on. It will 
take but a few moments to lull me into as 
deep a sleep as any here in the Hall!” 

He settled himself comfortably in a high 
armchair, stretched out, and rested his feet 

[125] 


The Forest Beyond the Woodlands 


on a footstool made in such a shape as to fit 
the chair, making it almost like a couch. 
Ruth sang again, this time the song she loved 
most dearly. — 

‘‘The forget-me-nots in the meadow 
Reflect the sky’s own blue. 

As they lift their tiny blossoms 
To catch the falling dew. 

The Blue Bird flies o’er the meadow; 
Through the calm his note is heard. 

Lo, the throbbing heart of Nature 
Is in tune with the song of a bird.” 

The deep, heavy snores rose in a chorus 
around her as the song ceased, and this time 
the Bronze King slept even more soundly 
than Ruth had dared to hope possible. 

She rose cautiously, tiptoed her way 
across the great hall, and slowly pushed the 
heavy folding doors apart, then as silently 
closed them behind her. Like the wind she 
[126] 


The Day Before the Wedding 


sped along the narrow passageway that led 
to her own apartments, opened the door, and 
flew to the long casement window that gave 
access to the Palace Garden, where she knew 
David awaited her. She stepped out into 
the night. 

A gust of wind blew the window to behind 
her with a crash that shattered the glass into 
a thousand fragments. Her heart sank. 
'‘David, David!” she called softly. There 
was no answer. It was dark — so dark that 
she could see nothing — and she feared lest 
the sound of the crashing glass had awakened 
the sleepers. 

She gave a low, clear whistle. In an 
instant, before there was time for an answer, 
David was at her side. "Come!” she said. 
"There is no time to be lost: the sleepers are 
waking.” As she spoke, they heard the 
[127] 


The Forest Beyond the Woodlands 

sound of hurrying feet in the passageway. 
The door of the apartment was pushed open, 
and her name was eagerly called. 

‘'She is not here, Sire,’’ said a trembling 
voice. “And the window is shattered. She 
must have tried to escape. Spread the alarm 
throughout the Palace!” 

David and Ruth fled hand in hand through 
the darkness, out into the Palace Garden, 
surrounded by its high, solid brick walls. 


[128] 


"THIS WAY, RUTH, THIS 
WHISPERED DAVID 


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^ *• 


CHAPTER XII 


THE RESCUE 

‘‘THIS way, Ruth, this way!” whispered 
David. “My faithful Horse is waiting for 
us.” 

It was so dark that Ruth could only stum- 
ble blindly on. Once she almost fell; had it 
not been for David’s strong arm she surely 
would have fallen. He called in a low 
voice, hoping for response from the Winged 
Horse. But no soui.d could they hear, nor, 
in the black darkness that surrounded them, 
could they tell in which direction they were 
going. They groped onward, blindly but 
cautiously, feeling their way. 

A sound of much confusion rose within the 
Palace behind them. Every now and then 
[129] 


The Forest Beyond the Woodlands 
the King s voice could be distinctly heard 
above the turmoil. When he spoke in au- 
thority his voice sounded like the angry roar 
of a great fire. 

Suddenly a streak of light fell across the 
path in front of them, as someone opened a 
heavy door giving access to the Garden from 
another quarter of the Palace than that 
through which Ruth had entered. The 
Bronze King himself, alone and unattended, 
stepped out into the gravel path. He car- 
ried a large torch that flamed above his head. 
The lurid light fell upon his hard bronze 
face, showing it distorted and drawn with 
rage. 

'‘She shall never escape me,” he muttered 
to himself, but loudly enough for both 
David and Ruth to hear distinctly the words, 
“I will kill her first.” 

What followed happened far more quickly 

[130] 


The Rescue 


than it takes to tell it. As he spoke he lifted 
the torch high and rushed furiously forward. 
Before there was a chance to retreat, he came 
face to face with Ruth! The King was so 
thoroughly surprised at this unexpected 
meeting that he failed to notice David. 
The full glare of the burning torch fell 
blindingly upon Ruth’s pale and frightened 
face. 

‘‘So!” cried the King, “here you are, are 
you? I have found you myself, have I? 
Well, come with me.” 

He caught Ruth’s wrist in his great rough 
burning hand. They could both feel his hot 
breath as he spoke, and it seemed to fill the 
air with fumes like those of sulphur. 

“Take your hands off her!” commanded 
David — and his voice was that of a man. 

The Bronze King turned upon him in a 
fury of astonishment. 

[131] 


The Forest Beyond the Woodlands 

‘‘What!” he cried. “Who are you, to be 
commanding the King within his own 
Palace ? The girl is mine ; to-morrow she is 
to be my bride. She shall do as I command 
her or die instantly.” 

''You shall do as / command you or die 
instantly,” said David. “Take your hand 
from her wrist and let her go free, or you 
shall repent of your folly.” 

Never in all his royal existence had the 
Bronze King been addressed so. He grew 
so angry that his face looked more coppery 
than ever in the flickering light of the torch; 
Ruth thought she had never looked upon any 
one more terrible in all her life. A sound 
came from him that seemed to start some- 
where in the vicinity of his heart. It was 
like the roar of a raging forest fire. 

He turned the torch so that its light fell on 
David’s face. And when he saw the boy 

[132] 


The Rescue 


standing there before him, he laughed in 
scorn and turned, dragging Ruth toward the 
doorway. 

David drew his hunting-knife and rushed 
upon the King with such fury that the torch 
fell to the ground, setting fire to the grass 
and bushes as it rolled over and over; for the 
force with which it had been hurled from his 
hand when David made his onset was great 
enough to send it some distance. 

The King was a terribly powerful and 
heavy man, but he had no weapon save his 
own strength. David was slender and frail, 
but he held within his grasp a power that 
made him fearless and wise to act. The 
King, infuriated by David’s boldness, re- 
laxed his grasp on Ruth’s arm; and she, find- 
ing herself free, ran a few steps from him so 
that she might be beyond his reach should he 
attempt to seize her again. In a moment 

[133] 


The Forest Beyond the Woodlands 

David and the Bronze King were rolling 
over and over in an angry struggle, that same 
strange sound belching from the King’s huge 
body with increasing volume. Ruth trem- 
bled, for she feared lest David be hurt if not 
killed outright. In the growing light of the 
fire that had started from the blazing torch 
these two struggled and struggled, while 
poor Ruth looked on helplessly, her heart 
throbbing with fear and anguish. 

The whinny of a horse sounded not far 
away, and the light from the spreading fire 
illuminated a grove of dark cedar trees, 
within which Ruth could distinguish the out- 
line of the Pale-Coloured Horse as it gazed 
with clear, intelligent eyes upon its master. 

A quick and clever turn on David’s part 
threw the Bronze King so that he fell vio- 
lently to the ground. David stood over 
him; then, lifting his knife, he plunged it 

[134] 


The Rescue 


deep into his enemy’s side below the heart, 
just as the defeated King was about to call 
for help. The mighty monarch roared with 
pain. As David drew forth the knife there 
gushed from the wound a fluid, the colour of 
molten copper, that burst into flame the in- 
stant it came in contact with the air. In a 
moment the whole body of the great Bronze 
King was enveloped in vivid flame. 

David caught Ruth by the hand, and to- 
gether they fled toward the Winged Horse. 
In an instant they were on its back. David 
held the reins of the magic bridle in one hand 
while with the other he supported Ruth, who 
sat before him on the wonderful steed which 
was now so miraculously to save their lives. 
Looking toward the Palace, they saw that 
armed men were rushing into the Garden 
from all directions. News that the King 
was slain had already spread, and his soldiers 

[135] 


The Forest Beyond the Woodlands 


and men-at-arms had vowed vengeance upon 
the slayer. 

“Come, my faithful Horse,” cried David. 
“Save us! the hour has come.” 

Slowly the creature moved, walked for- 
ward a few steps ; then, carrying its precious 
burden, it spread its great pale-coloured 
wings and rose up into the air; up, over the 
tree tops, over the roof of the great Castle, 
over the capstone of the high, high wall that 
enclosed the garden; then on over the iron 
pickets that made the place seem impreg- 
nable. Ruth’s hair had fallen loose, and its 
silk-like strands blew across David’s face and 
blinded his eyes as they moved forward 
through the vastness of the night. 

Below them raged the fire, which had 
spread with incredible fury and speed. All 
at once there was a terrific noise, louder than 
the explosion of the largest bomb. David 

[136] 


The Rescue 


and Ruth looked below them toward the spot 
where the Bronze King’s Palace had stood. 
They saw fiery broken fragments falling 
to the earth like rain ; and where the mighty 
Palace had once stood, there was nothing to 
be seen save burning desolation and wreck- 
age. The Bronze King, his Palace, his 
chained Lions and prancing horses had all 
been annihilated in one huge explosion. 
The terrific heat had caused such pressure 
within the Bronze King’s body, whose blood 
was but fuel and whose flesh but gas, that at 
last it exploded with a tremendous detona- 
tion ; and the spot where he had lived in such 
mighty glory knew him no more. 


[137] 


CHAPTER XIII 


THE BURNING MOUNTAIN 

ON, on through the night they rode, and 
one by one the stars appeared as the great 
storm clouds drifted away, borne on the cur- 
rent of friendly winds. 

‘'Where are we going?” asked Ruth. 

“We will let the Horse take us where he 
will,” said David. “He deserves to have 
his own way now, having served us so faith- 
fully and so well.” 

On they flew; and as morning stole into 
the sky and the stars began to grow pale, the 
great winged creature dropped down nearer 
to the earth, so that they just skimmed over 
the tree tops. In a few moments they came 
to the wonderful crystal pool where David 

[138] 



THEY TOLD ONE ANOTHER OF ALL 
THAT HAD TAKEN PLACE 



The Burning Mountain 

had waited and watched so patiently a short 
time before. 

‘'Ruth/’ he cried in delight, “here we are 
at the beautiful pool again ! We will linger 
here till noontime and refresh ourselves. It 
is the most beautiful spot imaginable, and I 
longed to have you see it.” 

The Horse settled down on the soft sward, 
and David and Ruth sprang from its back, 
glad to feel once more the firm earth under 
them. They refreshed themselves, drinking 
of the clear cool water; they rested in the soft 
moss; they gathered fruit and berries in the 
woods near at hand. They told one another 
of all that had taken place; and there was 
much to relate, much to rejoice over, much 
to remember, and much to regret. They 
were so happy that time passed by unheeded, 
and the great sun touched the horizon 
before they noticed that the day was spent. 

[139] 


The Forest Beyond the Woodland 

‘‘David/’ cried Ruth, “the day is gone! 
and we have done nothing to bring us nearer 
to the Garden.” 

“Nothing, save to free you from the 
Bronze King’s Palace,” answered David 
laughing. “To-day you were to be his 
bride.” 

Ruth shuddered. “It all seems so long 
ago — I forgot it happened but to-day,” she 
said. 

They called their faithful Horse to them 
and mounted upon his back. 

“Up !” said David, “up into the sky above, 
till through the darkness from some great 
height we can see the Burning Mountain.” 
The Horse obeyed, and they rose into the 
night as the twilight deepened. Up, up, till 
the stars overhead seemed so near that they 
fancied they could almost touch them. Far, 
[140] 


The Burning Mountain 

far away in the distance they saw the Burn- 
ing Mountain. 

“There!” cried David. “We must go 
over that^ for beyond that lies the Garden.” 

“Let us go round it,” said Ruth. “It will 
not be so hard for us to do that.” 

“No,” said David, “we must go over it. 
Only so can we be sure of reaching our goal.” 

“The air in the high regions is so hard to 
breathe,” said Ruth. 

“Yes,” answered David, “but I will do all 
that I can to help you endure it.” 

Soon they came nearer and nearer to the 
Burning Mountain. The flames rose high, 
so high that they seemed almost to burn the 
stars, and the heat was terrific. It was nec- 
essary to fly far up, and the air was so thin 
that it was almost impossible for them to 
breathe. It was very, very hard for the poor 

[141] 


The Forest Beyond the Woodlands 

Horse. Sometimes he would drop down 
nearer the mountainside, hoping to be able 
to breathe more easily there ; but the heat at 
that altitude was so fierce that it was impos- 
sible to endure it, and he rose upward again. 

Ruth said nothing, but the blood ran from 
her ears and nose and mouth. Twice she 
fainted, losing all consciousness, so that 
David had to hold her poor limp body to 
keep her from falling. David himself 
fought the supreme battle of his life. 
Nothing that he had ever attempted could 
compare with this, as a test of courage and 
endurance. 

But at last the great Burning Mountain 
lay behind them, and they could with safety 
sink down to the plain, where the air was less 
thin and breathing would be normal. They 
came out into a country where they could 
rest, for the great, terrible Mountain towered 
[142] 


The Burning Mountain 

far in the distance. Here they wished to de- 
scend, to rest upon the ground and gain 
strength before pursuing their journey. In 
accord with David’s wishes, the Horse de- 
scended, and they found themselves in a 
country filled with little trees and shrubs. 
They rested for some time, refreshing them- 
selves with water from a beautiful stream 
near which they had alighted. The country 
seemed to abound in berries and fruits. 

David knew that there would be no fur- 
ther need of the Horse ; and even Ruth was 
quite ready to let the creature go, for this last 
flight had been most perilous and fraught 
with fears. So David called the good Horse 
to him and said: ‘‘My faithful One, you 
shall have your liberty. Only, first, you 
must fly to the little cabin in the woods. 
Return to Wisdom’s Brother, and he will 
take the bridle and the golden bit from your 

[143] 


The Forest Beyond the Woodlands 

mouth. Then you will be free once more.’’ 

David stroked the silken coat as he spoke, 
and the Horse rubbed against his master’s 
sleeve and nibbled it in affectionate play. 
Then, stretching his great wings, he rose from 
the ground and was soon lost in the vastness 
of the deep sky above. 


CHAPTER XIV 


THE GARDEN 

DAVID and Ruth journeyed onward 
hand in hand. The Burning Mountain was 
now almost invisibly remote, and they knew 
that they must be near the Garden for which 
they sought. Soon they met a company of 
young people, who immediately recognized 
the two as strangers. 

One, who seemed to be the leader, spoke 
to them, saying; ‘‘You are welcome, 
strangers. Will you not join us? for we are 
on our way to the Temple of Wisdom, and 
shall be glad to have you accompany us.” 

“That is indeed kind,” said David, and 
they joined the little company and became 
one with them. 

[145] 


The Forest Beyond the Woodlands 

‘'How came you here?” asked their new- 
found friend. 

“I will tell you gladly,” said David, “if 
you will tell me first where we are.” 

“Where?” repeated the other. “Why, 
you are on the borders of the Garden.” 

“The Garden in the midst of the Forest?” 
said David questioningly. 

“Yes,” replied the other. 

“There is a tree in its midst, is there not?” 
asked David. 

“A more beautiful Tree than the mind of 
man can imagine,” answered their guide. 

“So we have understood,” said David, 
“and we wish to find it.” 

“How came you here?” repeated their 
companion. “Did you come by yourselves, 
alone?” 

David smiled. “We came alone,” he an- 
swered, “but not by ourselves, for we were 
[146] 


The Garden 


guided and led here. Years ago I saw a 
Blue Bird and heard it sing. Once seeing 
and hearing it, I had to follow it. It led me 
to Ruth. Then, one day, it sang for us 
again. Its message was very clear, and 
again I had to follow it. I left Ruth; it led 
me to her a second time, for she was in 
trouble and needed me. We had thought 
that I could cut the trail here to the Garden 
and then return for her. But it could not 
be : we found that we must seek it together.” 

“But the Blue Bird never comes to the bor- 
ders of the Garden : he only remains within 
it,” said the stranger. “You must have 
come to this point alone.” 

“No, no!” said David and Ruth in one 
voice. “The Winged Horse brought us 
here!” 

As they conversed, the country through 
which they journeyed grew more and more 

[147] 


The Forest Beyond the Woodlands 

beautiful. Its wonders unfolded before 
their eyes as they talked together. 

''One never does anything alone,” said 
David. "I mean, of one’s own power. One 
is always guided, led, or helped. Only 
when one cannot clearly see or understand 
does one make the mistake of thinking of 
one’s power as coming from one’s self.” 

As he spoke they passed through a series 
of lovely groves — ^first, trees of heavy wood 
such as cedar, oak, pine, and chestnut ; then 
fruit trees, apple, orange, pear; then nut 
trees of varied kinds. As they walked on 
they noticed that the series of groves grew 
in such a pattern as to form a spiral of huge 
dimensions, toward the center of which they 
were now journeying. Soon they beheld 
such scenes as neither David nor Ruth had 
ever imagined or pictured. Here and there 
were charming and lovely little houses built 
[148] 


The Garden 


in the midst of beautiful groves, each house 
surrounded by a garden filled with sweet- 
scented flowers. The delicious fragrance re- 
minded David of the odours he had caught 
that first day when he had entered the Coun- 
try that lay just the other side of the little 
door in the tree trunk, only now it was much 
stronger, sweeter, and nearer. Here were 
also olive trees, sweet-scented shrubs, and 
rose trees. 

'‘You will find your house in time,” said 
the stranger. "For it is in the Garden some- 
where.” 

"Our house!” said Ruth. "How beau- 
tiful that will be.” 

They journeyed on. The light grew more 
and more brilliant. It was not the kind of 
light that dazzles the eye and pains : it gave 
an effect more like that which one feels in 
watching the sun rise, when the first streaks 

[149] 


The Forest Beyond the Woodlands 


of dawn come in the sky and every moment 
brings more light, makes all objects more dis- 
tinct and vivid. It seemed as if each step 
took them nearer and nearer to the serene 
splendour of noontime. 

At last they came to a Temple surrounded 
by trees, flowers, and shrubs of every sort, 
built within this wonderful and beautiful 
Garden. 

“This is the Temple of Wisdom,” said 
their guide. 

“The Tree — questioned David. 

“The Tree stands within the courtyard of 
the Temple,” answered the stranger, “for the 
Temple has been built around it.” 

“May we enter?” asked David. 

“All who desire to enter are welcome,” 
said the stranger. 

A sound broke forth through the sweetness 
of the fragrant air. It was the joyous song 
of the Blue Bird ! 

[150] 


‘WELCOME, CHILDREN,” SHE SAID, 
•WELCOME TO YOUR COTTAGE” 



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The Garden 


David and Ruth looked into one another’s 
eyes. The song re-echoed in their hearts. 
The stranger and his friends had left them, 
and they were quite alone. 

They looked about. The Bird sang 
again. The music drew them forward in the 
direction whence it came. Before them they 
saw a rose-covered cottage. The door 
opened, and the beautiful little old woman 
of the Mansion of Happiness stood before 
them, smiling. 

‘'Welcome, children,” she said. “Wel- 
come to your cottage.” 

David and Ruth had reached the end of 
their long, long journey. Through it all 
they had been learning to love one another, 
so that they were worthy to become husband 
and wife. 

They live in the little rose-covered cot- 
tage, within the shadow of the Temple of 


The Forest Beyond the Woodlands 

Wisdom. Many, many times they have en- 
tered the Temple and seen the wonderful 
Tree; and many, many times to come, they 
shall enter it again. 

So we must think of them as living in their 
rose-covered home built within the Garden 
that lies in the midst of the Forest Beyond 
the Woodlands. 



[152] 
















DEG 


LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 



